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Horsforth: Outcry over plans for new care home
A plan for a new care home in Horsforth has been attacked by a councillor.
Designs have been drawn up for a modern care home to replace St Joseph's care home in Outwood Lane, which closed two years ago and is in the process of being demolished and the site cleared.
Proposals submitted by the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy are for a large care home with 39 supported and independent living rooms, 21 nursing care homes, 21 rooms for dementia sufferers, lounges, dining area, function rooms, activity areas, a chapel and 28 parking spaces.
While many people accept the principle of a new care home on the site, the scale of the proposed replacement building has sparked controversy and attracted more than 80 objections.
Opponents include Horsforth Liberal Democrat councillors, Horsforth Town Council, Horsforth Civic Society, Leeds Civic Trust and Paul Truswell MP (Lab, Pudsey), whose constituency includes the Outwood Lane site, who all argue the new facility is over dominant and out of scale with the surrounding area.
A letter from the applicants to the council's west plans panel said the scheme was a flagship care home, involved significant investment and was a scheme that worked well.
But the design came under fire when presented to panel members for comment.
Coun Jamie Matthews (Lib Dem, Headingley) said: "It's a monstrosity and is completely out of character with the area.
"I don't know what planet they were on when they thought of this building and the fact that the existing building has been knocked down is a complete travesty.
"This looks like a Private Finance Initiative hospital or school and is not suitable for this area."
Coun Lucinda Yeadon (Lab, Kirkstall) said: "It looks like a hospital to me, it's so institutionalised. It is too big and inappropriate for its position in a suburban lane. The design needs to be more homely."
There was also some anger that the former St Joseph's home – two large Victorian houses with a 1970s infill section and other extensions – had been demolished ahead of the plans for its replacement being brought before the panel.
Coun Stuart Andrew (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon) said: "It's an utter disgrace that we have lost the original building."
Mr Martin Sellens, senior planning officer, said that as St Joseph's was unoccupied, not listed and not in a conservation area, demolition consent was not required and the applicants were entitled to take it down.
Planning officials will now present the councillors' comments to the applicants for their consideration.
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