Revised plans for new Eastbourne care home

On Tuesday (February 25), Eastbourne Borough Council’s planning committee is expected to consider an application to demolish Pentlow nursing home in Summerdown Road and build a new 62-bed care facility in its place.

The plans come after a similar proposal – an outline application for a 64-bed care home – was refused by the committee in July last year, due to concerns over the size of the potential building needed.

Speaking at the time, councillors said they felt approving an outline application may be giving developers “a blank cheque” with the final building proving to be “oppressive” to neighbours.

Unlike in the previous application, developers are this time seeking full planning permission, offering up all details of the building’s proposed design for consideration.

According to planning officers (who are recommending the application be approved) these designs show that the building would be acceptable for the site. 

In a report to be considered at the meeting, a council planning officer said: “The current full planning application confirms the details of the design, scale and layout of the building. 

“While three-and-a-half storey elements are present, the building design ensures the upper two floors are accommodated within the roof space, with the result that the overall height of the building is not significantly greater than neighbouring buildings.

“The proposed scheme represents an opportunity to replace the existing poorly adapted facility with a purpose-built care home …  that would provide an enhanced environment for occupants … significant improvements in efficiency and functionality [and] the continued presence of an important community and employment use in the area.”

While supported by officers, the scheme remains controversial with local residents, at least 78 of whom have put forward formal objections to the council. 

In their objections, many residents maintain that the scheme would be an overdevelopment of the site and argue the new proposals do not overcome the previous reasons for refusal.

Residents have also raised concerns about the potential impact the care home could have on traffic and parking in the area – with some arguing the proposals should include traffic calming measures to offset this. 

These travel concerns could potentially be addressed, however, as planning officers are recommending the scheme be approved subject to legal agreements requiring a travel plan and highways works.

The legal agreement would also seek to ensure the neighbouring Summerdown nursing home closes in the long term.

This would be as the new facility would be intended to replace both Pentlow and Summerdown, which are both owned by Canford Healthcare Ltd and provide 59 beds between them.

It would include 62 bedrooms in a U-shaped three-and-a-half storey building, which would also include staff and other care facilities. It also includes 23 on-site parking spaces, with access off of Summerdown Road.

Developers design show that all residential rooms would be located on the ground, first and second floor. The third floor, which would be contained entirely within the roof space, would be used for staff and service facilities.

For further details see application reference 190794 on the Eastbourne Borough Council planning website.