Woodland protected as care home gets approval

The Gothic Style Westwood Lodge, a listed building off Poorhole Lodge, Westwood

A 60-bed care home is set to be built near one of Kent's biggest shopping centres after plans were given the green light by councillors.

Proposals for the two-storey building in Broadstairs, close to Westwood Cross, appeared before Thanet District Council's planning committee for a fourth time this year.

The home, led by Rooksmead Residential, will be built on the grounds of Grade II-listed Westwood Lodge, off Poorhole Lane.

This follows council members repeatedly voting to defer the decision over fears for local woodland, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Grade II-listed 17th Century farm cottage at Poorhole Lodge, Westwood

Following a site visit by councillors, it was confirmed that all the trees on the site will be maintained, except one pine and one sycamore.

The area where the care home will go was previously used as a compound and temporary office for the construction of 153 houses in the north of Westwood Lodge grounds, which was approved in 2021.

A woodland management plan was created when the homes were approved.

Simon Warner, representing the developers, previously told the planning committee there is an "acute need" for such facilities.

As well as the building, the plan would include 18 car parking spaces - 11 for visitors - and create 62 jobs, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The Poorhole Lane site contains a number of Grade II-listed structures including the lodge, which was built in 1864 as a holiday home for a London stockbroker, and a 17th-century farm cottage and coach house.