Appeal lodged after 72-bed care home plans in Stanway refused

Proposals to build a 72-bed care home for the elderly on land off the Stanway Western Bypass, Colchester, were submitted to Colchester Council’s planning department in July last year.

The proposed development site spans almost 12 acres, equivalent to almost seven Premier League football pitches, but includes seven acres of “new public open space” and the diversion of a public footpath.

After they were submitted, several concerned residents wrote to planning bosses to voice their frustrations over the proposals, before the planning authority ultimately refused the development last October.

Land - the Stanway Western Bypass is surrounded by open green space (Image: Google)

At the time, Colchester Council told the applicant its decision had been based on the fact the site would be outside of the council’s settlement boundary and is defined as countryside. 

The authority also cited the open space in the area is important for its overall character, and that Colchester “has not been identified as a current area for growth in the [care] sector”.

Since then the developers behind the project, Stour Valley Construction & Groundworks Limited, Strawboat Limited and JF Ashton Limited, have lodged an appeal against the decision.

As a result, the plans will now be looked at by inspector Sarah Housden during a hearing which is being held on Wednesday 10 July, with a decision expected to be made no later than September 12.

Congestion - Stane Park has made Stanway's roads very busy (Image: Public)

The news of the application being once again put on the table is not expected to go down well with residents who previously objected to the plans. 

Many fear a new care home close to the proposed 225-home housing development off the Stanway Western Bypass would see the green space decimated.

One worried resident said: "This means as a community we will have no green space, which is disheartening and does raise issues and concerns so I strongly object to this."

Another fears the impact the combination of the new care home and new housing development could have on congestion in the area. 

New - the Lakelands Centre opened earlier this year (Image: Colchester City Council)

They said: "We cannot afford for anything else to be put up unless the road layout changes. 

"This is ruining it for everyone, ultimately leading to people selling their much-loved homes."

Proposals to build 225 homes off the Stanway Western Bypass were submitted to Colchester Council in 2021.

Developer O&H Properties says it will “assist in meeting the area’s open market and affordable housing needs”.