News

BROMSGROVE planners have unanimously given the green light to a care village development near the town centre.

At the last meeting of Bromsgrove District Council’s planning committee, held at the Council House on Monday, (February 2), the application from Aspen Retirement Ltd was considered.

The scheme proposed the building of the care village at land at Recreation Road.

It includes the building of an 81 bedroom care home, 66 bedroom extra care accommodation and 26 affordable apartments for older people.

The site features Bromsgrove’s Drill Hall, that was used throughout the First and Second World War and by cadets until the 1990s.

Under the proposals the hall would be demolished along with the disused Dragon Paradise restaurant, electrical wholesaler’s Barrie Beard’s former premises, a clinic, a disused training centre and a scout hall.

The site also includes car parking areas, and the council’s Recreation Road North car park.

The extra care accommodation embraces the concept of enabling older people to live independently, whilst being assisted from supporting facilities and services.

The care home, which would be located at the site of the Drill Hall, features a private garden area and communal facilities including activity rooms, a small cinema and a cafe.

The affordable housing would be restricted to a minimum age of 60, and would also have a private garden area.

During the meeting nearly all councillors took part in the discussion and praised the scheme.

Hollywood and Majors Green councillor Mark Bullivant said it was really what he wanted to see in the town centre, while Uffdown councillor Keith Grant-Pearce described it as superb.

Norton councillor Pete Lammas said he supported the scheme, pointing out that this area of Bromsgrove had been allowed to become scruffy in recent years.

He added he was sad to see Bromsgrove’s second Drill Hall go, but said that overall the scheme would be welcomed by the people of the town.

Councillor Edward Murray, in welcoming the scheme, pointed out that he had residents who lived in his Sidemoor ward who he hoped would be encouraged to leave their two and three bedroom houses, and move into the affordable housing offered at the development.

A vote was taken and all members voted in favour of the application.

The scheme will be formally approved by the authority after a Section 106 agreement is agreed.

This agreement includes the possibility of developers making a contribution of £85,849 towards supporting the transport network including Kidderminster Road and St John Street, Market Street and improvements at Bromsgrove Bus Station.

Other contributions include £4,000 and £160,150 to enhance the Recreation Ground.

After the meeting John Montgomery, from Tanner & Tilley representing the applicants, said: “Members voted for it unanimously – I’ve never heard a planning committee wax so lyrically in favour of an application.”

He added it was hoped work would start as soon as possible, possibly “within months”.