PLANS to build a new care home in Thornbury have been approved. 

Care home developers LNT Care Developments applied to South Gloucestershire Council in July last year for permission to build a 66-bedroom residential home.

The home along Morton Way will be part of the new Cleve Park development and will also have provision for nursing and dementia care.

It is believed the two-storey home would create around 55 new jobs - with 33 full time and 22 part time positions created.

Concerns were previously raised about the design of the scheme by SGC council officers, Thornbury Town Council as well as two residents.

Proposals were even labelled by one council officer as a 'poor design' and by the town council as 'institutional in style'.

A design review panel, hosted by independent experts Design West, was eventually launched in August last year which made several recommendations to LNT. 

As a result, plans were changed, including the relocation of the home to the east, extra landscaping and the car park has been reconfigured.

Gazette Series: The latest site plan for the care home in Thornbury - photo submitted in November by LNT Care DevelopmentsThe latest site plan for the care home in Thornbury - photo submitted in November by LNT Care Developments (Image: LNT Care Developments)

According to the application, the care home will include a cinema, a salon, two lounges, two dining rooms, a cafe, a small shop, a library and reception area.

In addition, plans include building a laundry room, a kitchen, two garden rooms, an office space, and a staff room with a kitchen plus its own toilets. 

The latest site plan reveals plans for two courtyards, a landscaped garden, cycle storage, as well as solar panels installed on the roof. 

Additionally, the application includes creating 25 parking spaces, with six electric vehicle charging bays and two accessible spaces plus a drop off area.

Gazette Series: An artist's impression of the new care home in Thornbury - photo by LNT Care DevelopmentsAn artist's impression of the new care home in Thornbury - photo by LNT Care Developments (Image: LNT Care Developments)

It is also understood a piece of public art will be installed as well as a community feature and a raised planter. 

The scheme was officially approved on Friday, December 15.

A planning document reads: "The application has come forward as a full application as the time for submission of reserved matters applications has passed.

"The original application was put before the Design Review Panel and the options suggested were explored. 

"Revisions were made to the design and landscaping in particular that have satisfied the Urban Design and Landscape Officers. 

"The comments of Thornbury Council have been taken into consideration as have those of local residents.

"It is considered that there are no outstanding matters to resolve, subject to suitably worded conditions."

Keeley Sharp, LNT strategic land director said: "We are pleased that our planning application has been granted to develop an LNT care home in Thornbury.

"Once built, the care home will become an integral addition to the Cleeve Wood development by providing 66 residential care beds along with a range of luxury wellbeing facilities.

"LNT Care Developments are proud to build industry leading care homes that provide great places for residents to live and that generate employment opportunities for local communities.

"We look forward to commencing construction this Spring.”

You can view the application quoting P23/02022/F or see here - tinyurl.com/mptvst65

Planning permission was previously granted for the site at appeal in 2018 for 350 dwellings, 14 self-build dwellings and a 70-bed care home by planning inspector Clive Hughes. 

It came after SGC previously refused planning permission for the development in March 2017.