This website has been created to provide further information and generate feedback about plans by Morrison Community Care Group for a new care home to the north east of Northwich.
LOCATION PLAN
The Locality
The site is located to the north east of Northwich in an area with mixed uses including residential, retail and commercial (see plan above, site highlighted in red). The centre of Northwich is just over 1km to the west. A significant park area lies to the north of the site based around the reclaimed lime bed flashes from the salt works, creating pools which encourage significant wildlife ecology. The Lion Salt Works Museum sits to the north east of this area.
The SITE
The site lies between Chester Way to the north and Manchester Road to the south (site boundary shown in red in the plan above). Residential settlements form the east and west boundaries and these, together with the mature treescape represent the primary context to the
site.
South of Manchester Road, there is a large Tesco Superstore which contains a Costa Coffee café.
The site is extremely accessible with both Station Road and Manchester Road being bus routes, and Northwich train station 100m from the south end of the site. Together with access to the supermarket and local shops within 500m,
this provides exceptional non-vehicle accessibility.
The site itself is vacant land which is extensively covered with trees and scrub, other than land adjacent the end of Peter Street where there is a large, informal, gravel turning head.
There is a path curving across the north end of the site connecting the Peter/Wade Street houses to the large roundabout and local shopping centre on Station Road.
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC BENEFITS
The development proposed will result in the delivery of significant social, economic and environmental benefits.
The provision of much needed care housing to meet the needs of older people is an important social benefit of the development proposal, and will also result in reduced isolation and loneliness which is a widespread concern for a large section of older people. The development proposal also includes an element of care which is likely to have wider benefits to local GPs and hospitals through a decrease in admissions.
With regards to economic impacts, the development proposal will create local employment, both in the construction phase through the need for local workers and materials and the indirect impacts that this brings, but also significantly in the creation of employment in facilitating the on-site services in the region of around 100 employees.
Furthermore, these employees will bring increased spending to the local and neighbourhood area, thus supporting the vitality of Northwich through the increased use of the nearby services.
PLANNING CONTEXT
Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 states that planning applications must be determined in accordance with the Development Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
The Development Plan comprises the Cheshire West and Chester Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies (henceforth “LP1”) Local Plan (Part Two) Land Allocations and Detailed Policies (henceforth “LP2”), and Northwich Neighbourhood Plan (henceforth “NNP”). Material considerations include the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG), and the National Design Guide.
Northwich is identified in the LP1 as the key focus for development in the east of the borough. The site is not allocated for development in the Local Plan, however Policy SOC 3 (Housing mix and type) encourages the provision of a range of accommodation types to meet the long term needs of older people. Further, Policy DM26 (Specialist Accommodation) in LP2 specifically supports the provision of development designed to meet the needs of older people or the elderly.
LP2 identifies that there will be a significant ageing of the population within Cheshire West and Chester by 2030. The number of residents above pensionable age is predicted to increase from 71,800 in 2010 to 108,000 by 2030. The LP2 identifies that this significant demographic shift will “create a demand for housing to support elderly residents, whilst encouraging independent living through offering a range of age and care related products in addition to nursing and care homes”.
A lack of housing provision to meet the needs of older people is a national social issue. The 2022 Mayhew Review evidences the UK’s failure to adapt to an ageing population. The Review suggests that up to 50,000 new dwellings suitable to meet the needs of older people should be delivered each year, a significant increase on the approximately 7,000 per annum currently completed.
Given the above, it is considered that the development of a care home to meet the needs of older people solidify the principle of development in this area.