Vacant Hawarden nursing home set to be brought back into use

A vacant nursing home looks set to be brought back into use as care accommodation for adults with disabilities. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire Council’s planning committee is to consider a change of use application for the former Oakmere Nursing Home on Bennetts Lane in Hawarden. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The facility has been unused since 2017 when the former nursing home was closed after inspection. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A report to Flintshire’s planning committee outlines the proposal is “for the redevelopment of an existing care home site for a similar use, providing supported living accommodation”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The facility would provide 16 units, which includes 14 resident units and two resident wheelchair units as well as 14 single bedroom supported living apartments (including two wheelchair units) split over three blocks of buildings. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Each apartment would have an individual or shared amenity terrace/garden area. The scheme also proposes a total of 32 parking spaces including three mobility impaired spaces. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The report states: “The proposed care home is a private facility and is not being promoted by Flintshire County Council Adult Social Care. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“It is intended that this development will provide appropriate facilities for people that currently have to travel out of county to find similar facilities.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

It adds: “Whilst the existing use of the site would generate a certain level of traffic if the use was reinstated it is importance to be mindful of the possible impact of the development upon the adjacent highway network. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Bennetts Lane is a narrow and awkward access lane with inherent access issues due to its traditional layout. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The submission highlights that typically residents of the site would tend not to drive, and so demand for parking space is very low and mainly only required for occasional visitors, or staff who are unable to use public transport. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Staff will work on a 24-hour three shift pattern, with staggered start and finish times to avoid peaks in traffic generation.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The council’s chief planning officer Andrew Farrow has recommended the development be given the green light. The planning committee will make a decision when they meet on Wednesday (December 14). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

By Rory Sheehan – Local Democracy Reporter (more here). ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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