Care home plan for former cinema site approved

Plans to build a care home on the site of a former Derby cinema have been approved.

Derby City Council has backed plans for LNT Care Developments and Pear Tree (Derby Ltd) to construct a 66-bed facility on Foresters Way, off Osmaston Park Road.

Documents submitted to the council state that locals described the derelict Showcase Cinema site, which is surrounded by fencing, as an "eyesore".

A second application, including a Greggs, Starbucks and a drive-thru Burger King, has also been submitted for the site.

The planned care home is a three-storey facility with associated access, parking and landscaping, according to documents submitted to the council.

A planning statement on behalf of LNT Care Developments said the development would "create significant and important new employment opportunities".

The statement adds: "The proposed care home also needs to be considered in the context of the wider site that will be subject to future development.

"The commercial scheme includes a retail unit, coffee shop and hot food unit, which will have drive-thru functions."

A decision notice, which confirmed the plans were approved by council officers, states that developers will have to create 20 integrated nest boxes and 10 bat boxes before work can begin.

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.