Care home proposal for former activity centre site

A care home for people with complex needs could be built on Goodall Street in Macclesfield.

Exemplar Health Care has applied for permission to demolish an activity centre on Goodall Street in Macclesfield to make way for a three-storey, 35-bed care home.

The activity centre, which was used by children, parents and older people, closed in 2018.

A design and access statement states: “The design will be light, bright, spacious and homely with easy access to amenities including a community hub, dining rooms, lounges and therapy facilities.

“All ground floor amenity areas and bedrooms will have direct access to enclosed secure landscaped areas where possible.

“The outdoor areas will be sensitively designed providing the residents with a better quality of life and well-being.”

The planning document continues: “Frustrated seeing young adults with complex care needs being placed in care homes for the elderly, Exemplar decided to focus the business on providing more appropriate nurse-led care facilities, where people could be supported to live life to the fullest.”

“It quickly became clear that this specialist service for younger adults made a significant difference to the lives of people living with neuro-disabilities, brain injury, stroke, Huntington’s disease, learning disability and other complex needs.”

The planning document adds: “The proposal is well located and will provide an economic benefit to the local area through the generation of new jobs associated with both the construction and operation of the new care home.

“There will also be social benefits from the proposed development through the provision of residential care, allowing families to remain in close proximity to one another.”

Exemplar was established in 1999 as a training company providing adaptation courses for overseas nurses and opened its first purpose-built home in 2003. The company now operates more than 40 specialist nursing homes across the UK, providing for more than 750 people with complex disabilities.

The application, number 24/1544M, can be viewed HERE on Cheshire East Council’s website.

The closing date for comments is May 29 and the application is due to be determined by a planning officer under delegated authority.