Disused care home to be converted into flats

The former Rockley Dene site will be turned into 24 homes

A disused care home which was closed in 2022 due to health and safety breaches is set to be converted into 24 flats.

Barnsley Council has granted planning permission to redevelop the former Rockley Dene facility on Park Road in Worsborough.

The proposal stated the scheme would support the council's Local Plan to boost housing supply.

The plan was submitted by Sheffield-based developers EDGE AD Ltd on behalf of Kruidberg Capital, a real estate company in Barnsley.

The site was earmarked for development due to its proximity to services, schools, and public transport links, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Much of the original structure will be retained and the mix of studio, one-bed, and two-bed homes will support Barnsley's housing needs, the applicant said.

The council has asked for a biodiversity net gain plan, protections for existing trees and habitats and restrictions on construction times.

It said the plan "should be viewed favourably" given its contribution to local housing supply, economic activity, and environmental performance.

Demolition and construction must begin within three years, and all biodiversity and drainage conditions must be satisfied before work gets underway.

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