New bungalows for assisted living housing estate

Plans to expand an assisted living housing estate with seven new bungalows have been approved.

Breckland Council rubber-stamped the proposals for the gated community in Saham Toney, near Watton in Norfolk, despite conflicting with local planning policies about building on rural development.

But planning officers had concluded that a shortfall of 504 specialist care homes in Breckland outweighed those concerns, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The new dwellings, which are at Saham Tythe Barn in Chequers Lane, will add to the four homes already at the site.

Private company Enable Healthcare Solutions manages the properties, which are designed for older people who need continuous care.

Residents are provided with 24-hour on call support, are allowed to have visiting family stay the night and are also permitted to keep pets.

Speaking at a planning committee meeting on Tuesday, Conservative councillor Helen Crane said: "This proposal offers something different, something compassionate, which allows people to get care while maintaining dignity, companionship and a sense of home."

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