A POOLE care home has been given the green light to add an additional two storeys onto its building to create 33 new rooms.
Almost two years since the application was submitted, in which time the home has been rebranded, the application for Eagles Mount Care Home in Birds Hill Road to cater for dozens more residents has been approved despite several objections.
In February last year, the then Birds Hill Nursing Home sought to construct two new storeys to accommodate up to 40 more residents.
Birds Hill later became Eagles Mount Care Home and is now run by Dorset care provider Luxury Care.
The existing building that occupies the site dates from the early 1990’s in place of three detached houses and was redesigned as a purpose-built nursing home of three storeys fronting onto Longfleet Road.
In the application, planners said: “This application represents an opportunity to contribute to the regeneration of the town with a high-quality development within a prominent quayside location.
“The additional storey would not be unduly prominent when viewed from the residential areas to the south, even when looking northwards along Birds Hill Road. The change in level within the site already means that the building is significantly taller when viewed from the south as there is an additional storey at the car park level.”
However, some residents disagreed. Objector Wendy Good said: “[This] will completely alter the present neighbourhood. 33 more beds will create more refuse, meaning more heavy vehicles trying to turn around.
“When Birds Hill nursing home was built the foundation had to have tons of concrete pumped in and around to stabilize the new building. So, can the foundations cope with two more floors? The car park is not sufficient to cope with visitors for 33 more residents.”
The approved plans list no additional parking spaces.
BCP Council approved the plans on December 22 and said the additional storeys would preserve the setting of nearby heritage assets and “not cause material harm [to] the amenity of neighbouring occupiers”.
When complete, the extended care home would have in the region of 95 beds.
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