PLANS to build a new 72-bed care home in the Eccleshill area have been approved by Bradford Council.

Torsion Care will build the new home on currently vacant land at Kimberwicke Walk, off Harrogate Road. The site is next to Eccleshill Retail Park – home to Lidl, Starbucks and Burger King.

The company says the three-storey care facility will employ around 75 people.

The proposals, which include a 23-space car park, were revealed earlier this Spring. They have now been approved by planners who said the site was suitable for a care home, and that there were a number of local services nearby.

The company said there was currently a shortage of “wet-room” care home beds in the area.

The application added: “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.”

The site will be landscaped with 39 trees planted around the care home.

There had been just one objection to the application – an objector raised concern over noise while the care home is being constructed.

Planning officers said: “The proposed development would occupy a location with adequate accessibility on foot, by bicycle, or on public transport to a range of local services and facilities.

“Safe and suitable access to the site can be achieved for all users and the development would not result in any significant impacts on the surrounding highway network in terms of capacity or congestion.

“The level of car parking provision and bicycle parking is acceptable and commensurate with the use proposed and the location of the site.

“The proposed development would introduce areas of managed landscaping which would include, shrub and herbaceous borders, amenity grassland, shade tolerant wildflower grassland, single introduced species and species rich native hedgerows and the planting of 39 small trees.”

One condition is that construction work can only take place between 7.30am and 6pm on Monday to Friday and 7.30am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no work allowed on Sundays.