Green light for care home despite objections

Council planners have unanimously approved an application to build a care home on a car park of former council offices.

Cornwall Council's planning committee approved the plan for a 67-bed care home and 26 affordable apartments at Higher Trenant Road, Wadebridge, despite objections from neighbouring residents.

Objections have been made about being overlooked by the proposed three-and-a-half-storey buildings and overspill parking on the nearby Trevarner Meadow housing estate.

Councillors were told a travel plan put forward by the applicant would mitigate any suggestion of people parking outside nearby houses.

The meeting heard there is a predicted under supply of 2,400 beds in Cornwall by 2040 with a need in Wadebridge and the surrounding area for an additional 216 beds, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A committee report noted: "One of Cornwall's principal challenges is the shortage of certain types of care home capacity, with Cornwall currently experiencing declining care home provision, with an average net loss of 25 beds per year over the last four years.

"Demand is close to outstripping available supply and there is a danger that Cornwall Council will not be able to meet its statutory requirements under the Care Act of 2014."

Claire Newcombe, development manager at Sanctuary Housing which is set to manage the new care home, said: "Our aim is to deliver seven new care homes in Cornwall over the next 10 years to meet the demands of an ageing population with inadequate existing provision."

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