Two new care homes proposed for Otley

Torsion Care (Otley) Ltd is proposing the demolition of an existing house at Eastlands, 91 Pool Road, Otley and the erection of a 66 bed care home with ancillary car parking and landscaping and Springfield Healthcare Group is proposing the change of use of the former Summercross pub at Cross Green, Otley, along with extensions and alterations, landscaping and car parking to create a 60-bed mixed care offering including dementia care with bistro.

Otley and Yeadon ward Councillors Colin Campbell, Sandy Lay and Ryk Downes are urging residents to take time to comment on the two planning applications.

"These are two large developments," said Cllr Lay. "One is a controversial redevelopment of the old Summercross pub and the other will see the demolition of a house and building next to the Pool Road garden centre. These developments, if they go ahead will create significant change in the area and we want to make sure residents views are taken into account before permission is granted."

Cllr Cambell said: "We appreciate that the run up to Christmas can be a busy time and the last thing people have on their mind is responding to this kind of development. We would hope that interested residents can find time to look at the proposals and make comments."

Cllr Downes added: "It is important that Leeds planners know what Otley thinks about these developments, if they are to go ahead it is important they reflect local need and deal with local concerns."

The councillors have submitted their own comments to the two applications.

The plan for the Pool Road site (Image: submitted)

In a statement to support their application for a 66-bedroom care home Torsion Care says: "Torsion Care’s market analysis of Otley and the surrounding area shows that there have been only 5 care homes within a 5-mile of the site’s location built within the last 20 years reducing to only 2 within a 3-mile radius. This puts a significant burden on first generation, 80s and 90s care homes which are oftentimes not purpose built but are converted properties.

"The proposed 66-bed scheme is of sufficient scale that great care could be provided viably to a whole range of clients, not simply private fee-paying individuals and to a location which is crying out for new, fit for future care home beds."

They add: "The proposed redevelopment of the existing site represents an ideal opportunity to meet the growing care needs of those living in the Otley area. Torsion Care’s proposal provides a sustainable building, designed to meet the operational needs of a modern care facility whilst helping to bridge the undersupply or significant shortfall of fit-for future care beds in the locality. Redevelopment of the site will also provide 75 jobs to the local community once operational along with jobs created during the construction phase on site and across the wider supply chain."

A planning statement to support Springfield Healthcare's application for the care home at the former Summercross Public House says: "The former Summercross public house at Otley closed in 2007. The site has not been used since, despite a previous care home planning application being granted but not developed out by the previous owner.

"Our scheme, at an investment cost of over £8 million, will bring the site back into use along with the provision of a new licensed bistro that can be used by the local community during designated times, as well as our service users. We are committed to delivering this scheme in the expeditious time frame possible, as it has been derelict for far too long."

It adds: "Through the site’s redevelopment, the proposal would revive a longstanding vacant brownfield site, which would include the preservation of an important community building, the former Summercross Public House. The proposal would create an attractive and vibrant development which would enhance the area and provide specialist accommodation in an area where the evidence is clear that there is an ageing population."