Plans for 70-bedroom care home near market town

Plans have been unveiled for a 70-bedroom care home on the edge of a market town.

Prime (UK) Developments of Worcester is seeking full planning permission to build the home by the roundabout east of Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, where the A40 meets Starling Road, part of the St Mary's Garden Village development.

But some nearby residents have expressed concern about the potential loss of green space.

A public consultation is running until 17 April.

According to the application, all rooms would have en-suite wet rooms.

As well as shared lounges and dining areas, the mostly two-storey building would feature a cafe, hairdresser, hobby room and "cinema/bar", along with a first-floor terrace and semi-private garden spaces outside.

Some staff facilities would be included on a smaller second floor, whose greater height would "create a strong entrance feature" to the north, the application said.

It would be clad in brick and off-white render to match the surrounding houses.

A path that currently cuts across the 0.7-hectare site would be rerouted around it.

People living in St Mary's Garden Village were invited to share their opinions of the development at a public consultation event at the town's Larruperz Centre in January.

Some said they were upset that the site was being considered for development when they had been led to believe it would remain as a green space and suggested they would submit a petition opposing the application.

Other concerns raised included the impact on parking, wildlife, flood risk and drainage, and local health services.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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