Plans for a 60-bed care home near one of Kent’s largest shopping centres have been dealt a blow by councillors over fears for woodland.
Rooksmead Residential hopes to build the facility, which could create more than 60 jobs, on the grounds of Grade II-Listed Westwood Lodge, between Broadstairs and Westwood Cross.
But despite Thanet District Council planning officers recommending the application for approval, councillors pushed back the decision during a crunch meeting on Wednesday, February 19.
Simon Warner, acting as agent for the developers told the planning committee there is an “acute need” for such facilities.
He said: “The care home could include dementia care, end of life care, nursing care, residential care and or respite care.
“We have several parties and operators interested in bringing this scheme forward subject to planning permission.”
As an outline planning application, Rooksmead was seeking consent for the principle of development on the site off Poorhole Lane, rather than specifics on design and layout.
The scheme was originally submitted in 2023 with 66 bedrooms, but the number was reduced later on.
If approved, the building would be two-storeys high, and have 18 car parking spaces, including 11 for visitors.
The area was previously used as a compound and temporary office for the construction of 153 houses in the north of Westwood Lodge grounds, approved in 2021.
The site contains a number of Grade II-listed structures including the lodge, which was built in 1864 as a holiday home for a London stockbroker, and a 17th-century farm cottage and coach house.
A planning officer told committee members that the “public benefits” of the plans – including 62 direct jobs and 21 indirect jobs which could be created – outweighed the harms, and the plans should be approved.
Although generally welcoming towards a new care home, councillors raised concerns about potential loss of woodland.
Cllr George Rusiecki (Con) told the council chamber: “In principle it seems like a good idea – certainly a care home is required.
“We need more in Thanet – we have an elderly population and very few beds for them to get to.”
The impact on the nearby trees is not yet clear, as most of the area was already used as a temporary office. Such details are normally expanded on in the full application.
Cllr Steve Albon (Lab) said: “I’ve lived here since 1973 and this area of Westwood has always had a lovely woodland, slowly getting developed slowly removing the trees and I think it’s a shame.”
“It’s a brownfield site within a forest site so I’m a bit disappointed that the build doesn’t really try to live within that site,” added Cllr Rebecca Wing (Green).
A woodland management plan was created when the nearby 153 homes were given the nod.
It covers the space around where the care home could be build, and Rooksmead would become responsible for it.
Cllr Mike Garner (Green) said the plan stipulates the site should host “An area of high value tussock grassland for birds, reptiles and mammals.”
The motion to approve the application fell and a new one was written – asking to defer the plans back to officers to find reasons to refuse, stressing the loss of woodland.
The application will come back to the committee for the final call in future.
