Plans for an 80-bed care home on land previously identified for a school in Nantwich have been recommended for approval, writes Belinda Ryan.
Muller Property Group is seeking outline permission for the three-storey care home at Maylands Park, together with public open space, access, layout and appearance.
The application site comprises part of the mixed-use development on land to the south of Peter De Stapleigh Way at Stapeley, which was granted outline approval on appeal by the Secretary of State in 2020.
Access would be via the road leading southward from the traffic light junction on Peter De Stapleigh Way.
The proposal will be considered next week by Cheshire East’s strategic planning board.
It comes two months after permission was secured for 40 homes and a 49-apartment retirement living scheme as part of the phase two development of the site.
The council’s planners say this latest proposal would result in residential development in open countryside and would be in conflict with the development plan – but Cheshire doesn’t have a five-year supply of housing.
The report from the planning officer states: “The proposals are for an 80-bed care home which would provide residential nursing care for older persons as well as specialist dementia patient care.
“The delivery of 80 care bed spaces would help address an identified need, including the provision of specialist dementia care, which would also add to the council’s housing supply.”
The report says other advantages of the scheme include indirect economic benefits such as additional trade for local shops and businesses and jobs in construction.
Social and health benefits would include specialist nursing and dementia care.
And, it says, the proposal would significantly enhance provision of public open space at the heart of the Maylands Park development.
The report lists the ‘disbenefits’ as being residential development in the open countryside and the loss of approved mixed-uses, including land identified for a primary school, adding ‘albeit that there is no reasonable prospect of a school being delivered’.
The application is recommended for approval subject to conditions, including a financial contribution of £72,320 to the NHS.
The strategic planning board meeting takes place at 10.30am on Wednesday, July 23, at Crewe Municipal Buildings.
Care homes usually have a nominated local practice who they pay for care of their clients although someone who is registered with a local practice can keep their own GP if they are happy to continue the care.
There is something deeply unsettling about the provision of care for the elderly. I spoke to a friend recently, and he is paying £4,000 a month for care for his wife, who is physically able, with Alzheimer’s.
£133 A DAY for someone whose needs are basically a bed and food, and It’s not the minimum-wage carers who benefit, but the care home owners.
Nearly £50,000 a year is an obscene charge for basic care, and as someone who lost a significant inheritance to care home charges, I feel that this should be looked at by government with a view to capping these grossly excessive profits.
Can I just ask about medical provision as it is difficult to access GP. now and it is my understanding that care homes need to have a nominated G.P.