Highwood Ventures 19 Limited granted planning permission by New Forest District Council for new 68-bed care home on land east of Whitsbury Road, Fordingbridge

PLANS for a 68-bedroom care home in the New Forest have been given the green light.

Highwood Ventures 19 Limited applied to the district council to develop land east of Whitsbury Road, Fordingbridge, with a two-storey building consisting of three wings. A car park for 30 vehicles, plus designated disabled parking and an ambulance drop-off area, is included, along with communal gardens.

The application states it will provide 31 en-suite bedrooms on the ground floor, along with a reception, offices, communal lounges, kitchen and dining rooms, a hair and beauty salon, and cinema. The first floor would provide a further 37 bedrooms, nurses stations, quiet room, lounge, and dining rooms with lifts and stairwells connecting the two floors.

The northern part of the site will be developed with eight open market homes, with a mixture of two, three and four-bed properties.

Fordingbridge Town Council recommended the application for refusal, due to the increase in traffic and concerns over potential flooding. Four letters of objection were received from members of the public, who were concerned about the impact on residents, local infrastructure and insufficient parking. One letter of support was also received.

A report to NFDC’s planning committee stated: “The care home part of the development will assist towards increased wellbeing and reduced isolation, provide a range of facilities to encourage social interaction, and a potential reduced load on local NHS services.

“The proposed housing mix also has an emphasis on smaller two-bedroom properties, which would make a welcome contribution to the stock of smaller dwellings available to first time buyers and young families, for which there is an acknowledged need.”

Members voted in favour of the scheme, with eight votes to four.