Newark Town Council discuss Torsion Care Ltd’s plans to convert former Woods Court Day Centre, on Walker Close, Newark into a care home facility before plans submitted to Newark & Sherwood District Council

Town councillors have expressed their opinions — and concerns — over plans to convert a former adult day care centre to a new care home to Newark.

A planning application to convert the former Woods Court Day Centre, on Walker Close, into a care home facility is set to be submitted to Newark & Sherwood District Council later this month, with the applicant, Torsion Care Ltd, currently in pre-application discussions.

The proposal is to demolish the current two-storey building and create a three-storey 66-bed care home facility, with associated parking, cycle storage, secure garden and landscaping, and refuse facilities, as well as creating a number of full and part-time jobs.

The scheme would aim to retain as many of the existing trees as possible, which would be further reinforced with more landscaping and planting.

A statement from the applicant said: “The scheme will provide high quality care facilities for the local population, reducing the strain on he capacity of existing health services.

“The overall design strategy for the proposed development is to create a market-leading care facility in a highly sustainable location.”

The plans were put to Newark Town Council’s planning committee by the applicant to hear their views on the scheme, which was discussed on Wednesday night (November 27) at the committee meeting.

Laurence Goff said he was mostly concerned about the safeguarding of wildlife that had taken up residence on the site, as well as conservation and the protection of trees.

Lynn Roulstone said that she wanted to see more details about the scheme: “I’m not sure if three stories is right and the company seem to be promising a lot, but I want to see what other homes are like and what standard they are built to.”

Barbara Corrigan said that she was supportive of the facility as a care home, and was pleased that the development would retain many of the trees, and pointed out that care homes with gardens are “very beneficial” to its residents.

Chairman Lisa Geary pointed out that previous planning application for a doctor’s surgery was turned down by Newark and Sherwood District Council due to the removal of trees and concerns over traffic and access, but there would not be so many issues with traffic with this scheme, so there was “no reason to object to it at the moment”.

Mathew Skinner said: “We have to be careful what you wish for, I thought this site was perfect for a doctors surgery and now we’re in a situation where we’re demolishing a building which is in keeping with the surrounding area but this will be a brand new brick building which isn’t very pleasant.

“It’s not going to win any awards and that’s frustrating.”

Lynn added: “I’m not sure this is going to have architectural merit but we want the care used and a care home will be used.

“I don’t want to object one way or the other until I’ve seen more.”

Laurence added: “Care homes are a lifeline for people to live nearby and this is near the hospital, so it’s the ideal place.”

Barbara Corrigan added: “It’s a town centre location so there’s more options for public transport. It’s a shame they can’t design it to make it look more like a traditional building nearby.”

Lisa Geary put forward a suggestion that the town council would like to see a more modern look and more environmentally friendly, with solar panels with a more traditional appearance and to make sure as many of the trees are kept as possible, which was agreed by the members.