'Towering' Kidlington care home plan redesigned (From Oxford Mail)

'Towering' Kidlington care home plan redesigned

1:00pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in Oxford By Freddie Whittaker, covering Politics and Kidlington. Call me on 01865 425498

PLANS for a “towering” care home in Kidlington are to be redrawn after complaints from residents.

Complaints about the size and scale of the three-storey building, for land in The Moors, were raised at a recent consultation.

Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association Limited (BPHA) and the Order of St John Care Trust want a 54-room extra care facility on the site of demolished Thornbury House Children’s Home.

But the developers are to lower the height of the building – which will still be three storeys – after opposition from neighbours. Retired fireman John Lowe, 66, from neighbouring Lambs Close, said: “They are proposing a monolithic Victorian workhouse-style three-storey building at a minimal distance from our homes and towering above us. The main concern is that it’s quite a small site and they are looking to build 54-bed home there.

“There is a big issue with parking.

“There is already a sheltered housing complex which creates problems with overspill parking in The Moors, and for this development they have only allocated the princely total of 20 parking spaces. It’s going to cause major problems.”

St Mary’s Close resident the Rev Jim Turner, 78, added: “Nobody objects to the idea of a care home, but we want it to fit in with the rest of the residential area.

“The actual building they are proposing will be out of character. There are also questions over access with that narrow road, and only 20 parking spaces.”

Extra care facilities offer independent supported living for the over 50s.

BHPA spokeswoman Bianca Mulligan said: “We have received feedback from local residents on a number of issues and one in particular relating to concerns over the size and mass of the building. In response, we have updated the design to reduce the overall height of the development.

“We will soon be submitting the revised plans to Cherwell District Council for approval.

“We welcome all comments and feedback and encourage residents to review the updated plans once they are available and provide additional feedback through the planning consultation process.”