Plans submitted for new three-storey care home in Cheshire town

A new nursing home could be built in Widnes creating more than 50 jobs if plans are given the green light.

Isle of Man based Care Developments North West has submitted an application for a new home for the elderly on the former Greenoaks Farm Industrial Estate on Warrington Road.

The privately-run facility would specialise in end of life and dementia nursing care. The three-storey home would have 60 rooms and employ 53 staff working across three shifts, 24/7. There would also be 24 car parking spaces and 10 cycle spaces on the site, which is currently derelict.

The company was originally granted planning permission for a specialist unit for people with autism on the same site back in 2021, but some residents and councillors raised concern at the time about parking.

A planning statement submitted in support of the new application, said: “This nursing care is distinct from standard residential care homes as it requires 24//7 specialist care.

“This accommodation will comprise the most up to date, modern facilities with every bedroom benefiting from en-suite facilities, which is the standard requirement currently.”

The statement said analysis provided by the applicant had identified an ‘undersupply’ of 207 care home beds within a 15-mile catchment area of the site.

It added: “However, in reality when one considers the quality of the existing provision, the need is much greater, totalling in a requirement of 1,290 care beds with en-suite provision.

“Moreover, there is greater demand for specialised nursing care beds as this market is growing across the UK as people live longer with more specialist 24/7 care demands.”

The planning document added that the proposed nursing care home would exceed ‘all modern care standards’, providing a minimum of 16 sq m bedrooms plus full en-suite wet room facilities.

It added: “The development comprises generous lounge and dining areas on each floor, plus a café on the ground floor and a quiet lounges. There will be staff training areas, offices and medicine stations throughout.”

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