Care home to be built after council decision overturned

A Victorian villa on Cannock Road, Stafford, is set to be demolished to make way for the care home

A council's decision to refuse permission for a new care home on the site of a former police authority building has been overturned.

Stafford Borough Council rejected plans for the 76-bed development on Cannock Road last year, for reasons including loss of mature trees, flooding risk concerns and highway safety.

Care UK, which put forward the proposals, appealed against the council’s decision.

A planning inspector concluded the development would increase the supply of local specialist care accommodation and create jobs.

The inspector's decision notice stated the benefits of the project "notably outweighed the conflict", ruling the care home was suitable for the site.

There had been more than 20 objections submitted to Stafford Borough Council over the proposals.

The scheme includes the demolition of a 19th century building used as offices by the former Staffordshire Police Authority for about 40 years, before it later became a family home.

The scheme is set to create more than 80 jobs.

A supporting statement submitted as part of the application said the development would be a “high quality 76-bedroom care home”.

It would provide accommodation to residents with a range of care needs, the statement added.

Some residents would have dementia and others would have conditions such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.