Town set for boost of more care homes

Richmond Care Villages hopes to build 185 units in Witney, while IBIS Healthcare and Cottsway Housing Association have applied to build 93 care apartments in Carterton.

An analysis of provision by Richmond Care Villages suggests there is a shortfall in the district of about 330 units, rising to 450 by 2021.

West Oxfordshire District Council ’s planning officers have recommend approval for both applications ahead of Monday’s committee meeting.

The Witney application would see 60 care bedrooms, 47 care suites and 79 care apartments built on land at Coral Springs, Thorney Leys.

The development would also provide a swimming pool, restaurant, library, bar and other communal facilities.

Witney Town Council and Curbridge and Lew Parish Council have backed the scheme, although the latter suggested a flood assessment should be undertaken.

But the district council’s engineers said the development is “unlikely” to pose a flooding risk to surrounding areas.

Richmond Care Villages said: “The proposal will assist to meet an identified and increasing need in the area for care accommodation.

“The proposal would offer demonstrable benefits to the town.”

The company said its analysis showed there was a shortfall in Oxfordshire’s extra care provision of 1,700 units, rising to almost 2,200 by 2021.

Meanwhile, IBIS Healthcare and Cottsway Housing Association hope to build 93 care apartments on land behind Milestone Road, Carterton.

The site backs on to RAF Brize Norton and concerns have been raised about noise levels.

The district council’s environmental health team said the airbase was a “significant” source of noise.

But it said the RAF aircraft fleet was becoming less noisy and the development was acceptable with suitable measures to reduce potential noise problems.

District council officers have recommended approving both care home schemes, subject to developer funding being agreed by both applicants.