Landscaping for care home at Dellwood Community Hospital, Reading

“This reserved matters application seeks approval of landscaping details at the former Dellwood Community Hospital site, following grant of outline permission ref. PL/21/1728/OUT in July 2022 for a 56-bed care home (C2 use). The landscaping proposals include planting of 13 new trees, hedgerows, amenity grass areas, and shrub beds, alongside minimal hard landscaping for access and parking.”

“The proposals are considered to comply with relevant Local Plan policies in respect of design, biodiversity, climate change and tree coverage and no objections have been raised by consultees or any public comments received. The officer recommendation is to approve the landscaping Reserved Matters details subject to conditions.”

“This reserved matters application site relates to the former Dellwood Community Hospital on the east side of Liebenrood Road. To the front of the building is the hospital car park accessed from Liebenrood Road with the current building set back 20m from the road frontage. To the rear (east) of the building, the remainder of the site is The Duchess of Kent Hospice.”

“A large unsympathetic two storey side and single storey side extensions were added to the building in the 1970’s and the building continued in a health-related use as a GP surgery for the elderly up until 2005 when it was closed by the (then) NHS Clinical Commissioning Group who declared the site surplus to requirements. The site has been vacant ever since and the hospital relocated to nearby Prospect Park Hospital.”

“Outline Planning Permission ref. PL/21/1278/OUT was granted (subject to conditions) at the site on 1 st July 2022 for partial demolition, conversion and extension of the existing building to form a care home (C2 use class) with ancillary accommodation, amended access arrangements, car parking and associated works. Planning permission was granted following consideration of the application at Planning Applications Committee on 1 st June 2022.”

“- Partial demolition, conversion and extension of the existing building to form a 56-bed care home (C2 use class) and ancillary accommodation, amended access arrangements, car parking and associated works. The care home would be capable of providing care to residents of all dependency levels, including those with higher dependency, who require nursing care or dementia care within a specialist unit designed to cater for their needs.”

“The RBC Natural Environment Officer and Ecology Adviser consider the turf and planting bed species and locations to be acceptable and appropriate to allow for successful establishments of the soft landscaping. The soft landscaping proposals for the development submitted under part iii. of condition 3 are considered to be acceptable and would result in a significant greening of the site when compared to the existing situation.”

“The proposed landscaping would complement the proposed use of the site as a care home, assist in preserving the character and appearance of the retained parts of the existing building, a non-designated asset, and would enhance the contribution of the site to the character of the surrounding area in accordance with Policies CC7 (Design and the Public Realm), EN1 (Protection and Enhancement of the Historic Environment) and EN6 (New Development in a Historic Context).”

“That the Assistant Director of Planning, Transport and Public Protection Services be authorised to grant landscaping reserved matters approval for PL/25/0835 (REM) subject to the conditions and informatives set out in the report.”