Plan for 12 flats at vacant care home likely to go ahead

A proposal for 12 flats in an old care home in Mansfield is likely to be given the green light after planners said they considered the idea “acceptable”.

Westfield Care Home, on Devon Drive in Ladybrook, north west of the town centre, was closed in April 2019, according to CQC records.

An application to turn it into a residential property was submitted to Mansfield District Council in October last year, describing the usage of the premises as a care home as “no longer needed or viable”.

The properties would consist of a singular one-bedroom flat, one two-bedroom flat, seven three-bedroom flats and three four-bedroom flats, all intended for families

Only 22 car parking spaces will be provided – a shortfall of four against Nottinghamshire County Council’s parking standards, which stipulate that there should be 26 for a development of the size proposed.

This would include two visitor spaces, courtesy of an existing car park at the front of the property and an extended rear parking area that would require garden space to be dug up.

But the district council’s planners said: “Given the sustainable nature of the site, contributions to bus stops, provision of bus passes and a condition requiring a car parking management plan, on balance, this shortfall is not considered to form a sustainable reason for refusal.”

There were two objections from neighbours relating to the suitability of the proposed development to the area’s family-oriented character and the safety and well-being of existing residents of the area, as well as the risk of windows overlooking nearby properties and the impact on local amenity.

Subsequently, conditions have been proposed to mitigate concerns.

In relation to the potential overlooking of neighbouring properties by residents of the new apartments, planners have suggested that said relevant windows should be fixed shut and/or obscured.

And CCTV would be installed to alleviate safety concerns.

Originally, the council had hoped to make a decision on the plans by March, but a number of plans were amended and revisions submitted over the last few months, including to remove ensuites from many bedrooms and to demonstrate which windows would be obscured.

In the rooms served by such windows, revised plans also show how additional ceiling windows would be installed to counteract the respective loss of light.

A report for councillors on Mansfield’s planning committee, prepared by the planners says: “The principle of development is considered acceptable. The proposal will bring an existing vacant building back into re-use and provide a mix of apartment sizes within the development.”

The committee will meet on Monday, October 12 to discuss and approve or reject the application.