Plans for a 72-bed care home have been approved for Bury St Edmunds.
The facility – to be built on the site of an existing bungalow in Hollow Road – will provide a variety of services including dementia, respite, palliative, convalescence and nursing care.
The proposals were put forward by Savills on behalf of Simply UK and were approved by West Suffolk Council.
The application proposed the re-development of the existing bungalow, ancillary buildings and garden to be replaced by a three-storey 72-bed care home with two wings.
Each wing will have a quiet lounge room and a day/dining room, while the facility will also have several communal facilities including a cinema, drawing room, study and games room.
The plans also make provision for car parking spaces and engineering works – including the widening of existing access and a new footpath.
In making its decision the council said the principle of development was considered acceptable subject to a number of conditions. This includes a Section 106 agreement that would see the developer contribute £18,000 towards health facilities and £6,480 to a library.
West Suffolk Council’s report reads: “The proposals would re-use an existing brownfield site, result in a more efficient use of land and achieve a good quality development without leading to significantly adverse impacts upon its surroundings.
“In terms of the social role of sustainability, the development would provide a specialist care facility in an area where the population is ageing. It would also serve to return a number of potentially ‘under-occupied’ existing dwellings back to the market which would contribute indirectly to meeting the needs of present and future generations.”
Neil Dobbie, land director at Simply UK, said: “We are delighted to note our application for this best-in-class home has been approved. We believe it represents state-of-the-art for the care industry and has standards and facilities which are at the pinnacle of what the sector has to offer. We expect to begin construction during the second quarter of this year, with a view to receiving our first residents at the beginning of 2025.”
Richard Mears, from the Central South planning team at Savills, said: “We are delighted to have been able to play a role in bringing this redundant site back into use. The care home will provide much-needed facilities for the population of Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding area.”
Image source: Simply UK. Image shows a CGI image of a similar project by Simply UK at Pitreavie Castle in Dunfermline, Scotland. Credit – Yeoman McAllister Architects
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