66-bed care home at The (former) Feather Mills Factory Site, Diss

“Applicant’s Name: [name withheld] - LNT Care Developments Ltd Site Address The (former) Feather Mills Factory Site, Park Road, Diss, Norfolk, IP22 4AS Proposal Erection of 3 storey, 66 bed care home for older people with associated landscaping, car parking and access.”

“The proposal is for a 3-storey, 66-bed care home with associated landscaping, parking and access. Originally this was submitted as a flat-roof design; however, the applicant reverted to a pitched-roof design during the course of the application.”

“The site involves a cleared section of land, part of the wider former ‘Feather Mills’ factory which existed in situ until 2023. This consisted of generally single-storey, brick-built and corrugated-sheeting warehouse-type buildings.”

“To the north of the application site is a mixture of retirement living housing and the Park Hotel, with its car park in between. To the west is a housing estate dating from 2010 (Water Gardens) and Piper Gardens, which is slightly older, both being infill housing consisting of detached houses. A generally low-level boundary with hedging exists on the east side of these two developments facing the application site.”

“2026/0914 Redevelopment of site to provide a mixed-use scheme comprising of light industrial, B8 Storage & B8 Storage with retail counter units. Pending consideration…”

“2022/2424 Demolition of existing buildings on site. Redevelopment of site to provide a retail foodstore (Class E) and associated car park, access, servicing and landscaping. Creation of new access road off Park Road to serve foodstore and land to the west. Approved – 10.04.24”

“This also particularly forms an unacceptable and unbalanced relationship with existing residential development to the west / south-west giving rise to notable amenity impacts including that of an over-dominating, overbearing and visually intrusive form of development that will compromise residential amenity to neighbouring property. The impacts of which are considered to be significantly adverse and justify refusal of the application.”

“A further concern and reason for refusal relates to the identification of an alternative preferable site with a lower level of flood risk (fluvial and surface water) which although has been identified in the applicant’s sequential assessment is considered cannot be reasonably discounted based on its merits in bringing forward a care home of equal quantum in a sustainable and more appropriate location in respect of flood risk.”

“Disruption from further construction (further to construction of Aldi) • Concern over method of piling (further to construction of Aldi) • Scale, bulk and height detrimental to visual character (unlike De Lucy House care home built in 2015) • Flat roof design unattractive, not innovative and monolithic and will set precedent for 3 storey flat roofs in Diss • Parking inadequate, parking displacement into surrounding developments / streets, doesn’t accord with Policy…”

“Decision : Members voted unanimously for refusal (following completion and final evaluation / oversight of further riparian animals survey).”

“The proposed development in its scale and design (including the extent of facing accommodation) is considered would be significantly detrimental to the residential amenity of neighbouring occupiers of property to the west / south-west, contrary to Policy DM 3.8 of South Norfolk Local Plan Development Management Policies Document (2015), Policy 2 of the Greater Norwich Local Plan (2024), Policy 6 of the Diss & District Neighbourhood Plan (2023) and guidance contained…”