A REPORT has recommended plans for a new care home on land in Lichfield are approved.
The development is the latest attempt to build on the plot at Tamworth Road.
The latest proposal would see an 81-bed facility with parking constructed.
Objections have been raised by Lichfield City Council over the “inappropriate location” near the A38 and concerns over the amount of car parking.
But a report to a meeting of Lichfield District Council’s planning committee has recommended the scheme be given the green light.
It said:
“The care provided by the facility will include general nursing, personal care, respite and specialist dementia care. The site is allocated for residential and employment development and has previously received permission for residential development.
“Using the site to deliver a care home – a type of residential use – is considered to be acceptable in principle and is supported by the demonstrable need for ensuite care home bedrooms within the local area.
“Officers believe the site itself represents an opportunity to deliver an outstanding, landmark building in a prominent location on the edge of the city. Such an opportunity, if executed well, will only serve to enhance this otherwise understated entrance to the city from the A51.
“The scheme represents a robust attempt to deliver a much-needed care facility in an interesting and distinctive way, relative to comparable developments in the locality.
“A contemporary design and finish can incorporate locally relevant materiality, such as the distinctive red brickwork found within the district and city particularly, such that there is effective placemaking within the more striking elements.
“Officers consider the development to be delivering public benefits that outweigh the less than substantial harm identified by the conservation officer, as being caused to the setting of the Grade II listed building.
“When considered in the round, the development is contributing significantly towards a local need, and also delivering a large number of full-time equivalent jobs within the district, on a site allocated for both residential and employment use.”
Full details can be seen on Lichfield District Council’s planning website. A decision on the application will be made at the planning committee meeting on 2nd September.
Well, I’m going deaf already so the A38 noise shouldn’t be an issue. Both parents had dementia. I live across the road. I like the canal. Please can I put a down payment now on a room?
Soon all they’ll be in Lichfield is care homes. Maybe the council should invest in more undertakers. Ridiculous
This building is totally wrong here and permanently destroys the whole setting of this historic canal. The combination of grey festureless high rise and swathes of tarmac is completely out of character for the area. The impact on the neighbouring Grade II listed building will be considerable, and permanent, but the height of the proposed building is obviously considered to be in keeping with the warehousing that will be built in the adjacent Cricket Lane development. Please don’t let this happen.
The position of this care home is totally unsuitable. A busy Tamworth road , the junction where Quarry Hills lane meets Tamworth road is already dangerous. The volume of traffic has already increased and with continue to do so. The building is far too large for this location. The impact on nature is another concern. There is already a monstrous building that has been built in place of the original canal cottage. When will these awful plans stop being allowed?
The building is incongruous with the area of
Bobbies Bendon the Lichfield Canal which is encouraging natural wildlife. Building is too big and bulky and is not sympathetic to its location.. The area will be spoilt.Were the planners sneaking this news out whilst people were still on holiday? Accepting this application is utterly ludicrous. Have any of the planners actually visited the site and really looked at it? I doubt it, for anyone doing so would immediately conclude that it is as unsuitable for a care home as it was for housing development. The only obvious reason for this proposal is for someone to make oodles of money without a care for the local environment, the local community, local road safety or the long hoped for canal amenity. If the planners are of the view that Lichfield, the soon to be crowned retirement and care homes capital of the Midlands, needs another care home why not put it on the white elephant formerly known as Birmingham Road/Friars Gate/Tempest Ford? It belongs to the Council, they have been touting it around developers for years and it would just be another eye sore to join their other botch ups in the City centre. Hopefully sensible Councillors will reject it.