New care home planned on redundant Mexborough site
A FORMER Conisbrough care home is set to make way for a modern replacement - with plans to demolish the existing building in the meantime because of anti-social behaviour risks.
Rowena House, in Old Road, was operated by Runwood Homes, which took over Doncaster Council’s care homes more than a decade ago.
Since then, the 40 bedroomed facility has been closed and the proposal is to use the same site for a new high-quality home.
Two planning applications are being considered by City of Doncaster Council, one for the new home itself and another for the demolition of the existing structure and outbuildings.
That is necessary, according to the application, because of “anti-social behaviour present following vacancy of care home with concerns for health and safety of surrounding neighbouring properties”.
The home is on a site with domestic housing and a school nearby.
When Runwood took over council care homes in 2015 there was an understanding work would be done to improve facilities.
Rowena House has 40 bedrooms but planning documents state: “The existing facilities provided did not care for the needs and standards required for vulnerable residents.
“The existing bedroom sizes were not up to modern standards and it was nearly impossible to accommodate specialist hoists and lifting equipment.”
Under Runwood’s proposals, the new home will have 65 bedrooms, with increased space.
The design would also feature a secure courtyard, allowing secure outdoor access for vulnerable residents, also providing shelter in poor weather conditions.
The design of the proposed building has been created to avoid any overbearing impact on neighbours, with windows placed to help maintain privacy,
Visitors approaching the site could be monitored, due to the location of the home within the plot, and as much vegetation as possible would be retained on the boundaries, to help screen the development.
Runwood anticipate that staff at the new home would be recruited locally, with the anticipation they would be likely to use public transport or bicycles to get to work, rather than parking on-site, though parking spaces would be increased from the current 25 to 29.
Decisions on both applications will be made later.