CONCERNS have been raised over plans to demolish and replace a Stroud care home. 

If approved, the proposals would see Wyatt House just off Matthews Way and Archway Gardens in Paganhill transform into a new three storey, 38 bed care home. 

Wyatt House - which closed in 2019 -  specialised in dementia nursing care for the elderly and was built nearly 50 years ago. 

The new care home accommodation would be spread over two and a half floors with the ground level containing a small 9-bed care group, the first floor a 14-bed care group, and the second floor a 14-bed care group. 

Stroud Town Council's Consultations and Highways Committee met on Wednesday, June 17 to review these proposals.

While generally supportive of the plans, the committee raised several concerns they hope will be addressed.

Tony Davey, Stroud mayor and committee chair, said: "We welcomed the attendance of the applicants to further explain their plans.

"However, we have some outstanding questions about certain aspects of the designs."

One major concern from the committee is the proposed height of the development and its potential impact on neighbouring properties.

Parking is another key issue - the current plans include parking for staff, but the committee feels this provision is "inadequate for a sub-regional facility which may have a large number of visitors."

The lack of external green space was also a sticking point while concerns were also raised about asbestos dust and noise pollution from the site due to the demolition and construction process. 

While being supportive of the plans in principle, the Consultations and Highways Committee is seeking clarification from the applicants before fully backing the proposed care home development.

Residents are welcome to send their perspectives to council@stroudtown.gov.uk for consideration.

According to planning documents the applicant said: "We undertook a recent walk around and found the building to be suffering from significant water ingress and extensive mould growth, many of the roof lights have been boarded over to limit damp ingress and we suspect the building has a high asbestos content given its age.

"The electrical services are have reached the end of their useful life and any remaining internal equipment is beyond being serviceable.

"The accommodation provided falls far below that which we would consider an appropriate environment to provide care both in terms of the facilities and spatial and access standards for those using wheelchairs or requiring hoisting.

"The proposal is for a new 38 bedroom care home spread over two and a half floors of accommodation with the partial lower ground floor being cut into the slope of the site."

See the plans - tinyurl.com/ysuwvr6y