Care home plan for pub given green light

Macc Care Ltd is going to build the three-storey home, complete with state of the art equipment and facilities including a cinema, on the site of The Anchor Inn on Chester Road.

Planners at Walsall Council approved the development, which the company said will create more than the equivalent of 80 full time jobs and provide an ‘enhanced’ quality of life for residents.

And the justification for the loss of the pub was there were 10 other boozers within a 2km walking distance of the Anchor.

These are the Shire Oak, The Jack Jigger, The Shoulder of Mutton, The Jiggers Whistle, The Royal Exchange, Boatmans Rest, The Black Cock, The Swan, Smithy’s Forge and Hussey Arms.

As well as the new building, 28 parking spaces will be provided along with an ambulance, delivery and taxi drop off space. There will also be a cycle shelter and landscaping works carried out.

The ground floor will consist of 29 of the bedrooms along with two lounge/dining rooms, hairdresser, officers, an activity lounge and the cinema.

A further 38 bedrooms will be on the first floor while the remaining 23 will be on the second.

Agents AP Architecture said: “The proposed development of a specialist care facility in this location is ideally suited in many ways, both in terms of the location, and its proposed form.

“The design, layout and scale compliment and fit well within the surrounding context and is not detrimental to the area within which the development is located.

“The proposed development will ensure that the local communities have access to the specialist care this home, can bring.

“The proposed home will ensure that the resident’s quality of life is greatly enhanced within a comfortable, and an ideal location, within easy reach of an established community with whom they can maintain there links and involvement.

“The scheme is designed to ensure that the future viability of the home is secure and that it is able to meet the increasing demanding needs of its future residents.

“The proposed redevelopment of this sustainable site represents a carefully considered scheme that, will help deliver a new community facility for the local community as well as having associated employment benefits.

“There is both an identified local need for quality care accommodation in the local area as well as extending the job opportunities for local people.

“It is for the above reasons that the proposed development of this site is best suited to the intended use, along with all the other benefits the home will bring to the local area.”