Care home plan for former hospital site rejected
Oculus Real EstatePlans to build a 72-room care home on a former hospital site have been refused over concerns the proposed new building would be too big.
Oculus Real Estate had wanted to build the facility at the former Caldew Hospital site on Dalston Road, Carlisle, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The scheme had been recommended for approval by Cumberland Council's planning officers but was turned down by councillors at a meeting.
The hospital closed in 2018, with another scheme to build houses there failing to come to fruition.
An officer's report said the detached, three-storey "care facility" with 72 rooms would "provide valuable accommodation for the elderly population".
Hannah Thompson, the applicant's agent, told members it would bring a long vacant site back into use and all consultees had raised no objections.
But there were a number of objections to the plans from local residents who said it would be "dominant and overbearing" to its neighbours.
Councillor Bob Kelly, Labour for Millom, said the scheme would create problems for residents, while Roger Dobson, Liberal Democrat for Corby and Hayton, queried why it was not planned for the centre of the site away from neighbouring properties.
