Conditions imposed on new Ringwood care home amid concerns for River Avon

A NEW care home to be built in Ringwood had a limit put on the number of rooms it can offer due to concerns about its effect on the River Avon.

Applicant Frontier Estates had wanted to construct a 72-bedroom home at land off Hopclover Way, but it has agreed to only have 59 occupied until a mitigation project can be found to ensure the river’s water quality is not damaged.

A letter from a New Forest District Council planning officer stated there was “existing evidence of high levels of phosphate in the water environment entering the River Avon”.

It added: “As such, there is considered to be a likely significant effect from residential development, including care homes.”

A reduction of bedrooms to 59 along with mitigation to protect the quality of the river had to be agreed before approval could be given by NFDC.

A limit of 110 litres of water per day per resident was also imposed, although the applicant complained that this was "inadequate".

If the measures introduced by Frontier Estates prove to be adequate they may apply to have all rooms made available.