Bid to extend care home for young disabled people allowed

Development Control North Committee members voted for the three additional building blocks behind Boldings Brooks and Orchard Lodge Care Centre in Dorking Road, Warnham, at a meeting on Tuesday (September 8).

The complex will provide 30 special care bed spaces for young people from across the region at the Sussex Health Care facility.

Planning officers recommended refusal because of the countryside location.

Members heard discussions over the location with the applicant and West Sussex County Council, which plans the county’s care home provision and did not support the application, were ongoing.

A planning document stated an essential need ‘for the form and level’ of the proposed accommodation had not been demonstrated to ignore a presumption against developments in the open countryside.

Members heard the location was a ‘natural extension’ of the existing facility which has a regional catchment.

The decision was deferred at a previous meeting.

No concerns were raised by Warnham Parish Council.

Peter Burgess (Con, Holbrook West, Horsham Town) said: “The county council have had enough time to bring this policy forward.

“I would strongly support the proposal of ‘let’s just do it’ and not carry on talking about it.”

The proposals were carried with conditions to be brought before the committee and its vice-chairman at a future date.

* Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.