Decision Due On Nelson Hospital Scheme

---

Planning committee set to hear more

A decision on plans for a Local Care Centre to be built on the Nelson Hospital site in Merton Park will be debated by borough councillors on Thursday (September 6).

The plans are for:

• construction of a new two/three storey (5,600 square metre) local care centre (LCC) and new access route with 68 car parking spaces to the rear (26 for patients);
• construction of a new two/three storey assisted living care development (51 units) at the western end of the site, with associated communal facilities, dedicated vehicle access and 21 car parking spaces.

The council's July planning committee meeting decided the plans available didn't give an adequate idea of the visual impact of the proposal. So they agreed to defer their decision until Thursday.

The initial redevelopment plans had been shown at two public meetings at the hospital in Kingston Road last year, followed by an 'open evening'. Fears were then expressed about lack of parking and potential traffic problems.

The plans were then amended earlier this year, the main changes being that the plan for The Rush has been re-designed to to keep the existing vehicular circulation and parking spaces, but the pedestrian access through The Rush Island will be realigned to give a more direct approach to the Main Entrance to the Health Centre.

Also the Assisted Living Care Home plans were modified with changes to the elevations and site layout, to give better internal arrangements for the residents.

While the LCC will retain the existing Pavilions, the plans for the care facility (pictured below) will involve demolition of all other existing buildings on the Kingston Road site.

The main entrance of the LCC will look like this:

What do you think? Why not comment on our forum?

September 2, 2012