Dementia care facilities given the green light

Two landmark dementia care facilities have been given planning permission by Rushcliffe Borough Council.

Church Farm at Rusticus has received formal planning permission, while Church Farm at Skylarks is awaiting its formal decision notice following the completion of a Section 106 agreement.

Patrick Atkinson, owner of Church Farm Care, has applauded the planners’ decision after a project team consisting of GraceMachin Planning & Property and Leonard Design Architects identified six “very special circumstances” that justify why the schemes should go ahead on Green Belt land.

Atkinson said: “This development of two innovative dementia care schemes in Nottingham is something that the city’s residents should be incredibly proud of and Rushcliffe Borough Council should be applauded for supporting the applications. Furthermore, an entirely Nottingham team, and one that shares my passion for delivering a higher standard of dementia care and facilities for the whole community, delivered this project which I’m equally thrilled about.

“The aim of Church Farm Care is to provide the best possible care, every minute of the day. Having a fantastic environment to live and work is a crucial part of this and reflects our belief that, above all else, people matter. We view those who live and work with us as family and approach our homes as places where people can share their life histories and support each other to live well.”

Becky Smith, dementia design specialist at Leonard Design, added: “The support from the community has been overwhelming and, despite a complex process, we’re thrilled that planning has been granted and Nottingham will be home to two innovative care facilities.

“Our team shares Patrick’s belief that care facilities don’t have to be treated as purely clinical spaces, prioritising the practical over the personal. After looking at the Dutch approach to care home design, specifically seeing first-hand the pioneering Hogeweyk ‘dementia village’ in the Netherlands, we were determined to deliver the real health benefits of intelligent design to these two schemes in Nottingham.

“Church Farm Care has proved that when a project is designed sensitively and intelligently, it will be recognised by the community and local authority as being of real value and something worth standing behind.”

Rushcliffe Borough Council received over 45 detailed supporting letters and e-mails for the Church Farm at Skylarks scheme.