A 72-BED care home could be built next to a retail park in Eccleshill if plans are approved.

The new development will help meet the urgent need for modern care rooms in the area, according to Torsion Care.

The company has applied for planning permission for the large building on land at Kimberwicke Walk, off Harrogate Road.

The site is next to the former Union Mills site, which is home to a Lidl and Starbucks. A new Burger King and business units are still under construction.

Torsion Care plans to develop the land next to the park, building a three-storey care home that will employ 75 people.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: An artist's impression of the proposed care homeAn artist's impression of the proposed care home (Image: Stem Architects)

A similar plan to build a care home on the site was submitted by Holt Family Holdings in 2022 but was withdrawn later that year.

The new application says: “Resident amenities will include the main reception space, dining lounges, hair salon, assisted bathrooms and clinics, music room, wellness suite, activity room, and sports lounge.

“The proposal represents an inward investment that would make effective use of the undeveloped and vacant application site and enhance this area of Bradford, which is in a highly accessible location.

“Whilst the care facility has a demonstrable benefit through creating care home beds for the elderly, a 72-bed care home also creates around 75 jobs (50 full-time and 25 part-time), providing employment opportunities for that that live in the surrounding area.

“This would lead to increased spending in the local economy, providing an economic benefit to existing shops and services located nearby.”

The application says the company carried out a survey of care bed needs shortly before submitting the plans.

It found that by 2025 an additional 516 wetroom care home beds will be needed within the surrounding area - three-mile radius from this site.

Describing the appearance of the development, the application added: “The building has been designed to reflect and assimilate itself with the traditional vernacular of the surrounding area, as well as the appearance of the nearby recent housing development and neighbouring church.

“As part of the proposed development of the site, new trees, hedging and soft landscaping will be installed and allowed to establish to increase the biodiversity of the site as part of the proposals. This will include a secure garden area which will be amenity garden space for the use of the residents of the proposed care home.”

A decision on the application is expected in July.