Inspector allows home for elderly

11:58am Wednesday 30th January 2008

Comments (1)   Have your say »

AN ACCOMODATION block for elderly people can go ahead in Winchester, after the company planning to build it won its appeal.

Sunrise Senior Living Ltd challenged Winchester City Council's decision to veto its plans to build a three-storey block housing 80 bedrooms to provide assisted living for older people at Warden Hill, Stockbridge Road, after the demolition of three homes there.

The proposals were dismissed almost a year ago and a Government inspector held an appeal in Winchester earlier this month (January).

The inspector, Christina Downes, reported back with her decision this week and she has decided to give the scheme the green light.

As part of the appeal, Mrs Downes visited another Sunrise complex in Banstead, Surrey.

She said: "As a piece of architecture I consider that the building would have an attractive and interesting appearance that would integrate well with its surroundings."

Planners argued at the appeal that the proposals would not fit in with the area.

A number of residents and the City of Winchester Trust had objected.

At the hearing, senior planning officer, Tom Patchell, said he and colleagues considered the plans "alien, overbearing and visually dominant".

But Mrs Downes said there were developments close by, such as housing at Weeke Manor, Holly Meadows and sheltered accommodation at Wyke Mark, that also included three-storey elements.

Although the Wyke Mark site had previously been home to a large development, the inspector said: "Nevertheless, it seems to me that the character of the area has changed in recent times and that more intense forms of development have become part of the established fabric."