Housing plan for same site had previously been rejected
The site of the proposed Wrightcare care home off Sagars Road at Handforth(Image: Google)
Plans for a 76-bed care home on the site of the former Knowle House at Handforth have been recommended for refusal.
The development, which would provide nursing and residential care for a range of needs including dementia care, is proposed for a 1.07-hectare site in the green belt off Sagars Road.
The site was previously occupied by Knowle House, a care facility which was bulldozed in 1996 following a fire.
Planners have recommended the northern planning committee refuse the scheme next week on several grounds, including it is inappropriate development in the green belt.
A report from the council’s planning officer states: “The proposal would provide employment on a site which has partially been previously developed.”
And it says the scheme would help relieve an identified unmet need, including the provision of specialist dementia care and would also add to the council’s housing land supply.
But it continues: “Whilst there are identifiable benefits with the proposal in terms of housing provision and job creation, these matters do not clearly outweigh the harm to the green belt and the other identified harm relating to the layout, trees/woodland and biodiversity.”
Meanwhile, Handforth Town Council ‘strongly recommends refusal’. The town council points out an application to build 26 homes on the same site was refused by Cheshire East in 2021 due to conflict with green belt policy and the subsequent appeal was dismissed.
It lists several reasons for objection including the narrow access to the site, parking concerns on Sagars Road and the additional pressure on GPs and related health services.
The 76-bed care home proposed for Handforth(Image: Cassidy & Ashton)
The town council also argues a care home is not needed and refers to Cheshire East’s ‘home first’ strategy, which promotes independence for as long as possible.
A number of local residents have also objected.
Among their concerns are loss of green space, impact on local infrastructure, imposing design and the proposal is too large for the site.
The northern planning committee meeting takes place on Wednesday, January 14, at Macclesfield Town Hall at 10.30am.
