A new care home will be built on a brownfield site in a Northamptonshire village, despite local concerns over access to healthcare facilities.

Councillors approved plans for a 66-bed residential care home to be built on unused land close to the High Street in Deanshanger.

The site was historically part of the Elementis works, where red lead and oxide pigments were produced. This is the last parcel of land covering the former works to be redeveloped.

Anne Thompson, who spoke at the meeting on behalf of Deanshanger Parish Council, welcomed the site and its benefits to local care needs, but raised concerns about how future residents would be able to access GP practices and the hospital as there are no direct bus routes.

A 3D illustration of what the new care home in Deanshanger will look like.
Credit: LNT Care Developments — A 3D illustration of what the new care home in Deanshanger will look like. Credit: LNT Care Developments

placeholder image — A 3D illustration of what the new care home in Deanshanger will look like. Credit: LNT Care Developments

She explained that local residents had previously been able to use the ABILITY community minibus, which operates in rural areas with limited public transport, to get to appointments, but the organisation recently announced its closure.

Sam Finlay, the agent for LNT Care Developments, said that the care home would look to reach an agreement with the doctors’ surgery to visit the home and see residents in one go, or transport people to the practice themselves.

He added: “The care home application is intended to be very much a local community facility. The site is prime for redevelopment and the proposed care home will provide an identified need for residential and dementia care beds within the region.”

According to plans, the care home would feature a total of 66 bedrooms with ensuites, four large combined living and dining areas, a lounge area, a private dining area, a salon, a clinic and other facilities. The wider site would include a car park with 29 bays and an outdoor amenity space with seating areas and a secure garden.

A contribution must be made by the developer to the Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board. The report states this will help meet the cost of reconfiguring the nearby medical centre practice in Stony Stratford, due to the increased population from the residential home.

The parish council urged that healthcare contributions are “properly secured, monitored and actually delivered”.

The plans were unanimously approved by the non-strategic planning committee.