Cornwall Council has responded favourably to plans to convert a former care home in Bodmin into 13 self-contained units for vulnerable and disabled people.
Developer Alpus and Lime Developments asked the council for pre-application advice on its proposals for the former Belmont House Nursing Home on Love Lane. The plans would create eight self-contained flats inside the existing building and five bungalows within the wider site.
The developer's planning agent told Cornwall Council: "Belmont House is a former nursing home that has been vacant for some time and is no longer in active care use.
"The applicant proposes to bring this underutilised building and its associated site back into meaningful residential use, delivering a total of 13 units comprising eight self-contained flats within the existing building and five bungalows within the wider site curtilage.
"The scheme is specifically designed to provide specialised social housing for vulnerable and disabled people, addressing a recognised gap in specialist and adapted residential provision within the local area.
"The applicant is committed to ensuring that all units are designed and managed to meet the operational requirements of this occupier group, with accessibility and suitability at the forefront of the design approach."
In its response, Cornwall Council said there is a significant need for adapted and specialist provision in the local area and across Cornwall, adding that this need adds "substantial weight in the planning balance in favour of the development".
The planning officer told Alpus and Lime Developments that it was essential to engage with the local community and neighbouring properties.
They said: "The most important message is that it is imperative that you undertake pre-application engagement with the local community. This can take many forms, however it should be used as a positive tool to raise awareness of your proposals whilst there is still opportunity to mould and tailor the scheme in light of feedback provided by local residents, the Town Council, and the divisional member. In this regard, particular attention should be paid to any properties who sit in closest proximity to the site.
"As the proposal amounts to the re-configuration of the existing building with minimal external changes, it is unlikely that the relationships with neighbours in respect to privacy or light will change. The main concerns are likely to relate to noise, vehicle movements, and the fact that it will be a different user group. The ability to show (to neighbours and in the submission) that the trip generation will not be materially increased will be important.
"In this regard it is noted that there likely will be a significant reduction in the overall numbers residing and working at the site relative to the existing lawful (but vacant) care home use.
"The other material change relates to the user group itself, from elderly care home residents, to specialised social housing for 'vulnerable and disabled people'. It would be useful to provide a narrative of the specific needs that this cohort will have, how they will be provided-for in respect to the physical accommodation itself, but moreover in respect to staffing levels and management strategies.
"Establishing in a document how the accommodation is run, including the associated day-to-day operational activities such laundry services, deliveries, maintenance, staff shift patterns, parking, noise management etc. will all be helpful to assure neighbours that their residential amenity will be safeguarded."
The planning officer also told the developer it would be beneficial to hold discussions with the council's Affordable Housing Team regarding whether it would be necessary to include a provision. They stated: "There may however be factors that would mean that the standard affordable housing requirements can be waived, such as if the proposal is eligible for Vacant Building Credit, or alternatively if the accommodation is secured in association with / commissioned through Cornwall Council to meet an identified need.
"A further discussion with the Affordable Housing Team would be beneficial to establish whether affordable housing is necessary, or alternatively how the accommodation will be secured so that it meets the agreed needs in perpetuity."
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The next stage for the developer is to submit a formal planning application. The positive response from Cornwall Council's planning department increases the likelihood that it will progress.
Cornwall Council Backs Bodmin Care Home Conversion Plan