Council rejects plan to double size of care home

The proposal had been met with strong opposition from the local community, and if approved would have seen Wrottesley House more than doubled in size.

The application sought permission to build a single-storey rear extension to the existing care home, turn the neighbouring property at 46A Wrottesley Road into a care home, and link the two with a two-storey building.

Wrottesley House is currently home to 12 residents, but would have been able to house 11 more under the plans.

Facilities and services at the care home currently include respite care, physiotherapy, own GP if required and wheelchair access.

Councillor Jonathan Yardley, who sits on Wolverhampton City Council's planning committee and represents the Tettenhall Regis ward, said planning officers with delegated powers refused the application on Friday.

He said: "This application has fallen at the first hurdle and is one of two or three that have fallen now.

"We have the robustness of the Local Neighbourhood Plan in place to defend Tettenhall against developers and preserve the beautiful environment that it has as wished for by the residents of Tettenhall."

The neighbourhood plan, which came into force in July, was approved by residents and is used by the city council when deciding on planning applications in area.

When an application for development in the local area or change of use is received, the council is required to refer to the neighbourhood plan first.

This check allows the council to see whether the proposals are in keeping with the policies the community has developed.

Councillor Yardley said: "One of the main reasons we have the local Neighbourhood Plan in place is that it describes how each area and section is earmarked, or delegated for what type of developments and enhancements.

"That area of Wrottesley Road and its surrounding roads are to be kept as dwellings, aspirational dwellings, and large gardens.

"They are not to be converted into any form of businesses.

"They are not to be developed for commercial or industrial use in any way either."

He believed the application was refused as it would have resulted in over-development of the sites, the properties were out of scale, it went against the urban grain of the street, and it would be out of character for the area.

The refusal can now be appealed, the company can apply to the secretary of state for a review, or they could alter the proposal and submit a new planning application.