Plans to redevelop former Carlisle hospital site into care facility refused
That's due to concerns that the scale of the proposed 72 unit later living care facility was too big
Plans to redevelop a former hospital site in Carlisle have been refused due to concerns of overlooking and that the scale of the proposed 72 unit later living care facility was too big.
Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee met at Allerdale House in Workington on Wednesday (February 25) to consider the planning application from Oculus Real Estate.
Plans were submitted for the supported care facility for the elderly with associated external works on land at the former Caldew Hospital on Dalston Road, Carlisle, back in 2023.
The former Caldew hospital site was historically a rectory and closed prior to the Covid-19 epidemic around 2018.
According to an officer’s report, the application is to create a ‘detached, three-storey building that would provide 72 rooms that would be occupied as a care facility’.
Planning officer Richard Maunsell told members that it was recommended to be approved subject to planning conditions.
There have a number of objections to the plans from local residents, with some concerns that the ‘proposal is dominant and overbearing at three storeys in height’ and that ‘if the building has CCTV these may capture images from neighbouring properties’.
Hannah Thompson, the applicant’s agent, told members that it would bring a long vacant site back into use and all consultees had raised no objections.
Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour) said the development would create problems for residents and he wondered if there was anything that could be done to ‘lessen the pain?’ and Mr Maunsell said they had to decide whether or not the scheme was acceptable.
And councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) observed that it was quite a large building and wondered why it was not centrally located at the site to move it further from neighbouring properties?
He proposed that they reject the application and added: “I am uncomfortable with the size of this.” He was seconded by councillor Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour)
Officers had recommended approval but when it was put to the vote just three members were in favour of rejection with six members abstaining and planning permission was refused.
The report states: “The building would form an ‘H’ footprint on the site with the accommodation being to the front and rear. The middle connecting section for the building would be narrower and would serve communal areas.
Following its use as a hospital, the site was mooted as a residential development, with plans submitted for a development of townhouses and apartments however no plans got to the decision stage.
The report states: “The use will provide valuable accommodation for the elderly population of the area providing choice to an ageing population.
“The building is large is scale and contemporary appearance; however it is set back from the frontage of the site.
“Rather than trying to replicate the previous building, it would result in an attractive and positive building that would not appear obtrusive or unacceptable within the character of the street scene.”