Derbyshire residents fear care home extension will be “overbearing and oppressive”

Residents living near a Derbyshire care home fear a proposed extension would be “overbearing and oppressive” and wipe out remaining outdoor space.
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Councillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge – close to Matlock – at a meeting next week.

The plans have been recommended for approval by council officers and would see a 16-bedroom dementia unit built at the facility, taking its overall bed numbers to 56.

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Documents submitted as part of the application by Thinking Buildings, on behalf of Ivonbrook Properties Ltd, say the facility struggles to remain financially viable due to its smaller size compared to new developments.

Councillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley BridgeCouncillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge
Councillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge

The facility, which opened in 1990, currently employs 45 full-time staff and 16 part-time staff, with the extension said to create four more jobs.

A further nine parking spaces would be created, taking the total to 25.

The applicant says the new single-story extension would be built on land to the south of the existing building and bordering a row of trees, standing at half a metre higher than the current complex and dug into the bank.

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South Darley Parish Council and a number of residents living near to the facility have submitted objections to the project.

Councillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge – close to MatlockCouncillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge – close to Matlock
Councillors are due to decide on plans to extend Ivonbrook Care Home in Eversleigh Rise, Darley Bridge – close to Matlock

They fear that existing traffic issues linked to the site would worsen as a result of the scheme, along with concerns about the new building overlooking neighbouring properties.

The parish authority claims the scheme would increase the footprint of the facility by 80 per cent, but the application details that the complex would increase its footprint by 33 per cent.

It says: “Whilst South Darley Parish Council is in favour of a dementia unit being built in the parish, it considers that the current proposal is out of scale and would have severe detrimental impacts.

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“The extension would increase the footprint of the care home buildings by about 80% and would eliminate the area of grassland south of the existing home.

“The grassed area at the site of the building is frequently used by red deer for grazing and is known to be a route for amphibians heading to or from a nearby pond.

“Due to its height and proximity, it would be overbearing and oppressive and there would be a lack of privacy both for the unit’s residents and the house holders.“There would be an increase in traffic to and from the site, both staff and visitors, adding to the already heavy requirement for parking.”

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust says the site could be home to protected great crested newts, with records showing the species being found at a neighbouring pond, with more investigation required and mitigation measures applied.

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Objection letters from seven properties surrounding the development detail: “An increased number of residents will lead to an increase in traffic along Lime Kiln Lane both day and night of staff and visitor traffic. Ambulances also travel to and from the care home at literally all hours of the day and night and it is not uncommon for us to be woken up in the middle of the night by ambulances with their blue lights flashing.”

“The surface of Lime Kiln Lane is already in a terrible state with exposed metalwork and potholes all the way along which increases the noise of vehicles using it.”

“The windows of the unit would be open for ventilation and noise from staff and residents would impact on the enjoyment of neighbour’s properties and gardens.”

One resident said they have had to install black-out blinds in their rear bedroom due to lighting stemming from the facility.

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A further resident said the plans were “obtrusive and grossly oversized in scale”.

Residents also said there were existing flooding and drainage issues linked to the site, with water pooling in the gardens of surrounding homes due to the run-off.

Planning officers, recommending approval, wrote: “The Local Planning Authority acknowledges that there is a recognised need for registered care accommodation within the Derbyshire Dales area.

“The proposal will make a significant contribution to addressing this need with a specialised dementia unit to increase the viability of an existing good quality care home.”

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They dispute how much neighbouring properties would be overlooked but acknowledge that one proposed window would need to have obscured glass installed.

The applicant claims the extension “would allow a more sustainable commercial future for the facility at a time of substantial rising costs and into the future”.

It says: “Many smaller care homes – especially those in older buildings – are closing due to rising costs and inefficiencies.”