New 66-bed care home near Braunton is given planning permission

A planning application for a 66-bed care home at Chivenor which is expected to create 50 full time jobs has been approved by North Devon Council despite local opposition.

Fifty people and Heanton Punchardon Parish Council objected to the plans by LNT Care Developments Ltd/St Francis Group for employment land off Tinever Road.

Concerns were raised over lack of parking, the design being out of character, traffic impacts and too much demand for local health services.

Locals also said the land was designated for employment use not for a residential institution.

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But the council’s planning committee agreed with officers’ recommendations to approve the plans.

As there were good public transport, cycling and walking links to Braunton and Barnstaple, it was considered the 25 parking spaces proposed would be adequate and the home would bring in much needed jobs as well as meet a local need.

Above: More GGI plans of how the development would appear. Credit: LNT Construction

They were satisfied that the site could be reclassified for residential (C2) use because of the employment aspect.

The land is covered by an outline permission for employment and mixed use development granted more than 10 years ago.

Heanton Punchardon Parish Council said a community hub for the residents of Chivenor Cross which formed part of the original plans had ‘failed to materialise’ despite the 150 homes being built, a park-and-ride and three phases of the business park. Now a care home had come forward.

Speaking at the planning meeting one resident said he believed the hub had been ‘a sweetener’ to get the original planning application through.

Councillor Ricky Knight for Heanton Punchardon said the issue of the hub was on the parish council agenda every month, adding: “Chivenor is going to get bigger and there are hardly any amenities for the community.

“We were hoping this would be a great opportunity. It is a great wish of the local community to have a community hub.”

Officers said approving the three storey care home would not prejudice the delivery of the hub which was in the hands of the landowner, not the care home developer.

Councillor for Braunton East, Graham Bell said he did not think that a care home in the middle of an industrial estate was a suitable location and Braunton already had three excellent care homes.

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Planning committee member Caroline Leaver raised concerns over the parking and the amount of green space residents would have to sit out in the sun.

She was told residents would benefit from being close to public open space to the east of the site.

The committee heard the area had become a habitat for wildlife.

The plans were approved subject to a legal agreement over biodiversity net gain being delivered and monitored.

Officers said a flat roof had been changed to a pitched roof to be more in keeping with the surrounding area.