Part demolition of existing building and convert into Children's Nursery (D1) with ancillary first floor staff accommodation (4 flats), construct intergenerational Care Centre comprising a new purpose designed 62 bedroom Care Home with layout parking and landscaping (Revised Application)

The application site was in the Green Belt and a Special Landscape Area and comprised a rural site occupied by a former manor house known as Dudbrook Hall. Dudbrook Hall was a part 2/3 storey non-designated heritage asset (important building, though not listed) that was converted into a care home following the grant of planning permission in 1995 and was operated by St Michaels Homes Limited. The care home currently had 44 residential bedrooms.

The proposal was to demolish the later additions of Dudbrook Hall and convert the retained elements into a children’s day nursery at ground floor accommodating up to 35 children. The first floor would be converted into 4 workers flats in connection with the operation of the care home and the second-floor area would be retained as ancillary office space for the management of the care home and nursery.

A new purpose built detached two storey care home comprising 62 residential beds was proposed to the rear of Dudbrook Hall extending into the undeveloped area of land to the west of the site. The development as a whole would be considered an inter-generational care centre that provided interaction between the care home residents and nursery children which had been shown to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of the elderly and improve learning and social interaction of children.

The site would be landscaped with a mixture of soft planting and hard surfaces and parking for each of the uses would be provided consisting of: 66 car parking spaces allocated to the care home, including 3 disabled bays and 15 spaces allocated to the Nursery, including 1 disabled bay. Cycle parking would also be provided at the care home entrance. The two existing vehicular accesses along Dudbrook Road would be reused and utilised.

Statements had been submitted by Navestock Parish Council and the agent for the application, Mr Fiely.  These statements were read aloud, the former setting out concerns in relation to traffic issues and the latter in support of the application.

Ward councillors Cllr Parker, Cllr Poppy and Cllr McCheyne addressed the committee in support of the application.

The Chair, on behalf of the majority, considered that there was an increased need for care home provision within the north of the borough and all of the very special circumstances put forward by the applicant were significant to outweigh harm to the Green Belt and other harm identified.

The draft condition themes recommended by the planning officer to committee members, in the event that the committee were to approve the application, were as follows:

Time – Development to be commenced within 3 years

Drawings – Development in Accordance with Drawings

Materials

Surface Water Management Plan

Landscaping Scheme

Tree protection Measures

Ecological Protection Measures

Conditions relating to highways to include: details of new accesses, construction method statement, parking bay requirements

Details of plant

Obscure glazing of windows

Construction Environmental Management Plan

Schedule of Repair of Dudbrook Hall

Cllr McCheyne MOVED and Cllr Jakobsson SECONDED that the application be APPROVED.  Following a debate a vote was taken and Members voted as follows:

FOR:  Cllrs Jakobsson, Kerslake, McCheyne, Tanner and Mrs Tierney (5)

AGAINST:  Cllrs Chilvers, Fryd, Haigh, Morrissey and Mynott (5)

ABSTAIN:  Cllrs Bridge and Keeble (2)

The Chair used his casting vote and the application was APPROVED against the officer recommendation subject to the above conditions: