70-bed care home at Leamington and County Golf Course, Whitnash

What was proposed

The application proposed a 70-bed care home, golf academy, club building extension, new access, demolition, drainage and irrigation infrastructure.

“Leamington and County Golf Course, Golf Lane, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, CV31 2QA Erection of 70 bed care home as enabling development to support the future of Leamington and County Golf Club; provision of a golf academy and demolition of former green keeper's storage building, new access to Golf Lane, connection to surface water sewer and SuDS pond with connection to water storage tank for irrigation FOR Morrison Community Care (Leamington Spa) Propco Limited AND Leamington…”

“Planning permission is sought for the erection of a new 70 bed care home which is proposed as enabling development to support the future of the Golf Club. To facilitate the development the former green keeper’s storage building will be demolished. The new care home comprises of three storeys of accommodation with a lower ground floor. The care home will be orientated around two wings with a revised mansard roof and finished in render and buff brick. The works include…”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site was within protected Local Green Space, outside but next to the urban boundary, with golf-course land, housing, vegetation and a sloping parcel.

“The application site falls within the protected local green space identified by the NPD associated with Leamington & Country Golf Club. The site lies to the south, adjacent but outside of the Urban Area Boundary with the Urban Area Boundary extending along the northern and eastern most boundary of the site.”

“The site comprises of two distinct parcels of land, an area adjacent to Golf Lane which is proposed for the siting of the new care home and an area located to the north of the existing club house which is proposed for the new extension. The area proposed for the care home lies adjacent to Golf Lane and includes an area outside of the fairways of the golf course on a sloping parcel of land which slopes up away from Golf Lane towards the club house.”

Officer report

Planning history

The recorded planning history listed one earlier application for a plaque within a brickwork feature, granted in 2007.

“W/06/1911- Erection of a plaque name within brickwork feature - Granted 02/02/2007.”

Officer report

Main planning issues

The proposal supported care-home and golf-club uses but caused substantial Local Green Space harm and moderate visual harm, while several other impacts were neutral.

“The site was designated as Local Green Space which was designated for its green and open character. Substantial weight was afforded to protecting this Local Green Space akin to Green Belt Policy and development would only be where there were very special circumstances which clearly outweighed the harm having regard to NDP Policy W7.”

“By reason of the design, scale and siting of the development with associated infrastructure officers considered that the development would give rise to visual harm to the character of the area in conflict with Policies BE1 and NE4 and NDP Policies W4, W8 and W9. This harm was considered to be moderate within the planning assessment.”

Minutes

What consultees said

The town council supported the application with concerns, while highways, ecology, flooding, police and fire consultees raised no objection subject to requirements.

“Whitnash Town Council: Supports this application as one of Whitnash’s Community Assets but raises concerns about deliveries along Golf Lane in the morning and afternoon, the access is difficult from Golf Lane at peak times during the school run. We hope the Golf Club will have an agreement with the Care Home for overflow car parking rather than on-street parking. The potential overlooking of the houses opposite the proposed site should be also considered (18/11/2024).”

“Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service: No objection, subject to fire hydrant condition (01/11/2024).”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector, three supporters and a councillor addressed the committee during the application’s consideration.

What members considered

Members considered the report, presentation, addendum and meeting representations before proposing that permission should be granted.

“An addendum circulated prior to the meeting advised of further clarification, one support comment, three objection comments, a planning history update, and an update to Condition Two.”

“Following consideration of the report, presentation, information contained in the addendum, and the representations made at the meeting, it was proposed by Councillor Kennedy and seconded by Councillor Russell that the application should be granted.”

Minutes