Huge objection to church and care home plan in West Moors

Close to 500 official objections, including from environmental bodies and the town council, have been submitted in an attempt to stop the development of land at Blackfield Farm

As reported, developer and landowner Nick Aris hopes to build a church and care home with associated car parking and an area for biodiversity enhancement at the 1.9ha land off Blackfield Lane.

This follows two previously failed attempts in 2019 and 2021.

However, since an Echo report on the plans in late August, public dissent toward the plans has erupted. Hundreds of objections have targeted concerns over pollution, loss of green land, traffic congestion and straining of the town’s infrastructure.

Traffic and congestion in The Avenue, West Moors, during school pick up (Image: Newsquest)

A West Moors Town Council spokesperson said: “There should be an attempt to minimise congestion, traffic/noise and air pollution, and provide a sustainable transport infrastructure, which is not evident within this application.

“The use of this land for such development is incompatible and inconsistent with the wholly residential nature of the neighbourhood.”

In their planning statement, developers said: “The proposed church and care home would make efficient use of land, benefitting the community and contributing an important community asset and service.”

However, the town council disagreed and said there was no need for another care home – with existing facilities in the town “under occupancy”.

It added: “An additional care home is likely to put pressure on the medical service within West Moors, which is anecdotally at capacity and it is safe to assume that it would be unable to cope with such additional pressures.”

Illustrations for proposed church and care home in land off Blackfield Lane in West Moors. Picture: Chapman Lily Planning

The Revd Andy Muckle, vicar of St Mary's Parish Church, said: “Once again, I find no evidence within the documents for this planning application of an actual 'need' for this development.

“This application is ill-considered.”

Objections were also received from Natural England and the Environment Agency over sustainability and water pollution concerns respectively, among others.

Scores of residents also attended a meeting about the development at the West Moors Memorial Hall on September 22, where there was “unanimous objection” apparently given by those in attendance.

In its concluding planning statement, developers said: “The design has been carefully conceived to avoid harm to neighbour amenity and ensure that a comfortable relationship subsists.”

The application is open for comments until October 30.