A care facility for people living with mental health conditions and learning disabilities will be built next to a dual carriageway in Daybrook.
Dignus Group, a disability service and support organisation based in Walsall, in the West Midlands, currently runs the Byron Court assisted living complex off Oxclose Lane.
Two 1930s houses were originally converted into a care home back in 1986, and Dignus has now applied for permission to demolish the old facility and build a new one in its place.
Gedling Borough Council has given the care provider permission to knock down the existing buildings to make way for a purpose-built facility with six beds within a rehabilitation centre.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care in England, most recently rated the existing facility as ‘Good’ following an inspection.
“Dignus provides a service for individuals who have a mental health diagnosis, a learning disability, and who may also present with autism and challenging behaviour,” a planning statement from Dignus says.
“The nature of the service and the support packages we offer means that we willingly work with individuals who are challenging and difficult to engage with and who are experiencing placement breakdowns.
“Our homes are designed to be wherever possible an environment that reflects domestic living arrangements.
“This particular scheme will have six apartments, each will contain its own bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom space.
“The complex will have communal space including common room area and office space for 24-hour support staff coverage, and other associated communal facilities.
“The new proposed accommodation will provide a more spacious and purpose built accommodation compared to the existing site facility.”
Initial proposals would have seen the construction of a three-storey building with eight rooms, however this was reduced down to two-storeys with six rooms, and the designs changed to better reflect the character of the area.
Ten letters objecting to the initial proposals were received by the council, with concerns raised over the impact on neighbouring properties.
Another consultation took place in February this year after revised plans were submitted, and five letters objecting to the proposals were received.
The council’s Environmental Health Officer also objected to the plans on the basis the proposed development “is highly likely to negatively impact neighbours to the proposed care home in terms of noise and anti-social behaviour, even with all the voluntary conditions in place from the applicant.”
However, the council says it considers the proposed design and layout is acceptable and would result in a development that would be well-designed, be of an appropriate scale and would be in keeping with its surroundings.
The modern building would also help better insulate sound from residents and staff within the facility.
Access will remain from Byron Street, and a total of eight off-street car parking spaces will be provided.
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