BARNEHURST: Nursing home development poised on a knife edge (From News Shopper)

BARNEHURST: Nursing home development poised on a knife edge

11:30am Sunday 14th March 2010 in

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DEVELOPERS have failed for a third time to get plans approved to build a large nursing home in a popular residential street.

Now they may run out of time before new guidance comes in which may make it easier for councils to turn down garden developments.

Carebase Ltd and Priory Developments want to demolish three houses with extensive gardens, in Stephen Road, Barnehurst, and build a nursing home.

Two previous attempts to get planning permission from Bexley Council for the venture have failed, in the face of fierce opposition from residents.

Following the refusal of the second application, the companies appealed and a planning inspector also ruled against them.

But in his report the inspector only had three specific objections.

The site backs onto Martens Grove Park and the inspector said the proposed three-storey nursing home would have an unacceptable impact when viewed from the park.

He said the buildings was placed too close to the boundaries with the park and the entrance to the park and he wanted a simpler mix of building materials.

The company revised its application, dropping the third storey from the rear of the building which backs onto the park, moving the building away from boundaries and reducing the number of bedrooms in the home from 60 to 53.

Two residents spoke against the application, detailing their objections.

One, George Palmer, urged councillors to have the courage to refuse the application.

He added: “Spare us this future nightmare. It is the residents who will have to live there with their road changed forever.”

Committee members were still unhappy about the view of the building from the park.

While they accepted the height of the rear of the building immediately next to the park had been lowered, the three-storey front of the building could still be seen.

Councillor Mike Slaughter said the reduction in the massing of the building from the previous application was “insignificant”.

He was supported by several other committee members.

But members were split evenly on whether to refuse or approve the application.

At the suggestion of officers, members agreed to defer the decision, pending further discussions with the two companies.