Wilmslow care home plans opposed by residents are refused – Knutsford Guardian

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a 60-bed care home in Wilmslow opposed by almost 150 residents have been turned down.

Care UK was seeking to create the home at 107 and 109 Manchester Road by demolishing the two existing detached properties.

The scheme faced opposition from residents and councillors, and the application was refused by eight votes to two on Wednesday by Cheshire East Councils Northern Planning Committee.

Wilmslow Town Council opposed the scheme on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site within a low-density area and being contrary to the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan with regards to garden development.

The scheme attracted 145 letters of opposition from residents, citing numerous issues including lack of parking, loss of light and overlooking to adjacent neighbours, over-development of the site and the lack of need in the area for additional care homes.

Cllr Don Stockton told the meeting there had been a massive reduction in the demand for residential and nursing care beds across the country, and elderly people had always wished to remain in their own homes.

The proposed care home would reduce demand for already struggling quality care homes in the area, he said, affect the quality of life for residents in Manchester Road by attracting more vehicles, more parking and more obstruction to driveways, and would be out of keeping with the area.

Cllr Mark Goldsmith said there were already 610 empty beds across the borough covering residential, dementia and nursing care, and the coronavirus pandemic had radically changed opinions, with elderly people now wanting help to stay in their own homes.

He said the scheme should be seen as a luxury hotel for the elderly, and the home would be 11 times bigger than the property next door.

He said: We do not need more care homes in Cheshire East, not now and not in the foreseeable future.

Christopher Lee, who lives next door to the site, said there was clearly no need for the home, which would be out of keeping with a residential road and would be overbearing on neighbouring properties.

Claire Ellam from Care UK said the home would be an asset to Wilmslow.

She said: This fit-for-purpose new care home will prove much- needed modern care accommodation which will be essential in the post-Covid world.

Cllr Liz Braithwaite said the scheme represented over-development in a residential area, while Cllr Paul Findlow said the application was a good example of plot cramming.

The application was refused because of lack of proven need for the home, cramped, over-development of the site and the visual harm it would cause to the area.

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Wilmslow care home plans opposed by residents are refused - Knutsford Guardian