Plans for new care home next to Stafford supermarket

Stafford Borough has been identified as having a growing demand for care beds – and last year Staffordshire County Council proposed developing its own nursing home in the area to meet future need.

A private care home operator – Cinnamon Care Collection Ltd – has put forward the latest proposals for vacant land at Silkmore Lane however, alongside Muller Senior Living Ltd.

If the application is approved by Stafford Borough Council the three-storey development will provide 75 beds.

It is not the first time the land next to the Co-operative Food store has been considered for a care home.

A design and access statement, submitted as part of the application, said: “A previous application was submitted to Stafford Borough Council for full planning permission which was granted on May 25, 2016, for a 76-bed residential care home with associated parking and landscaping.

“The new scheme is to be an improvement of that previously submitted as the initial designs do not match Cinnamon’s operational requirements. The proposed scheme aims to improve car parking layout along with the entrance road and increasing separation distances and open space.

“Over the next 50 years the population of over 65’s is anticipated to increase by 8.6million people – an increase approximately the same size as London – this will lead to a greater need for additional care needs to accommodate this increased population demographic.

“There is already a shortage of care beds within the UK’s built environment and whilst this is being addressed further development is required to meet the needs of the population with differing levels of mobility and capability within a secure, safe environment, such as a care home.

“Increasing the availability of this type of accommodation will lead to a positive effect on the local housing provision, as the care home fills houses will be released back into the local community in differing sizes to either as larger family houses or smaller starter homes.”

A “dementia-friendly” environment will be created as part of the care home’s design, the statement added. Features will include an “obvious entrance” with clear way finding throughout the home and site, staggered bedroom doors where possible and low level sills to allow views out from a seated or lying position.

Ground floor bedrooms would have external access to a safe garden, while balconies are proposed for upper floors.