Plans approved to transform former York City Council care home

Plans to build a new residential care home on the site of a former council care home have being approved by York City Council.

wrdunn, the York-based architecture and building surveying practice, and planning consultants, O’Neill Associates, have been working on the Fordlands Road scheme on behalf of client, Octopus Healthcare Developments.

Located in the Fulford area of the city, the 64-bed residential care home for the elderly received unanimous approval from York planning committee on Thursday 16th November.

Situated on a brownfield site, the former local authority care home has been closed for five years with the building no longer fit for purpose.

Lyth Watson, director of development at Octopus Healthcare, said: “We are delighted with the decision from York City Council and looking for to working with the community to develop a high-quality care facility that will meet the significant shortfall of care places in York, provide new jobs for the locality and also breathe new life into a long-term vacant site.”

The Fordlands Scheme will deliver care in a purpose designed building, with features included to benefit and aid those living with dementia.

Martin Smith, director of architecture at wrdunn. added: “This is an outstanding result for York and its vital need for more care facilities in the city.

“The Fordlands scheme that we put forward, on behalf of our client Octopus Healthcare, will diversify the type of care accommodation in the local area, providing a mix of independent and private rooms for those in need of care.

“We very much welcome York City Council’s unanimous decision to approve this scheme and look forward to working with Octopus on the next chapter of the site’s development.”

The scheme will now progress towards construction, with Barchester Care in line to operate the home once built. The home is expected to open summer 2019.