Walsall care home plan set to be rejected

Walsall Council’s planning committee is set to discuss the application by Restfull Homes Developments to build the facility on land on Chester Road, at a meeting on Thursday (November 12).

The developer says there is a need for the home due to growing demand in the area and added the scheme would create more than 80 new jobs.

They added it would be situated close to another care home currently being built and nearing completion, which is owned by the company and was granted planning permission two years ago.

But planning officers said it would be “inappropriate” development of the green belt while four letters of objection were received from nearby residents.

They raised concerns about the size of the proposed home, loss of trees, an overbearing building, loss of privacy, noise and dust pollution during construction and parking and access concerns.

A report to committee said: “The proposed development is inappropriate development for which there are no very special reasons to outweigh the harm to the green belt.

“There is an over provision of such care facilities in the borough, which does not outweigh the harm to the green belt, as such there is no identified need for this level of provision in the borough. Furthermore, the proposal represents unsustainable development.”

Ward councillor Keith Sears had called in the application for it to be discussed at committee on the grounds the facility is needed in the area and would benefit the NHS.

In the application Marrons Planning, on behalf of Restfull Homes Developments, said it was accepted that some harm would be caused to the green belt.

But added: “There are other considerations that clearly outweigh the harm caused to the Green Belt and comprise very special circumstances.

“They include the ongoing dementia crisis and acute need for the proposed care home facility; and the economic and social benefits of the development.”