Care village finally gets thumbs up on appeal
A new Belong care village designed by national architecture practice Pozzoni has been granted planning permission in Birkdale, Southport.
The site of the new scheme, which was previously occupied by a school for the blind, will provide accommodation for more than 100 older people including those living with dementia.
Planning permission was successfully achieved after an appeal by Mosaic Town Planning on behalf of care village specialists, Belong, following Sefton Council’s initial refusal in March 2016.
The inspector’s report found that the character and appearance of the nearby West Birkdale Conservation Area would be preserved and dismissed the council’s initial concerns regarding the proposal’s impact on local heritage assets.
Belong Birkdale is the latest Belong village designed by Pozzoni, creating a contemporary care village that provides a mix of accommodation and support options, with carefully thought-out building design maximising the possibility of independence and orientation for older people, including those with dementia.
The development will consist of six households across three floors, where 24-hour support is provided in small-scale, home-like environments. A four-storey adjoining wing offers 30 one and two bedroom independent living apartments.
A bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and village hall will also be included in the village centre, and will be accessible to residents as well as the local community.
Emma Tanti, associate at Pozzoni and project lead on the Belong Birkdale scheme, said: “We have extensive experience in dementia-friendly design and best practice principles will be used throughout. Simple design elements can make a big difference for people living with dementia to better understand their environment and help maintain their independence.
“Belong Birkdale will be non-institutional in design, offering a vibrant and welcoming environment which will become a real asset not just to older people in the area, but the wider community too.”
Leon Armstrong, associate at Mosaic Town Planning, said: “We are pleased that the inspector has acknowledged the contribution this community care village will make to the surrounding conservation area.
“The site has been vacant for some time and has become a blot on the local landscape. We believe that a Belong village is well suited to the location and will help to provide numerous benefits to those with care needs and the local community.”
Tracy Paine, operations director at Belong, added: “We fully expect that Belong Birkdale will quickly prove a real asset to the local community, offering drop-in services and a vibrant programme of activities for local people, as well as more intensive support for those who need it.”
Work is expected to start on site by the end of the year.
