Member Article

Malhotra Group PLC unveils plans for major care home development...

A MULTI-million pound scheme to build a state-of-the-art care facility at Ashington has been unveiled by Malhotra Group PLC.

The company’s care segment, Prestwick Care, has applied for planning permission to create a 58-bed care home, along with a second 12-bedroom specialist unit at land at Kenilworth Road, Ashington.

And, if the £10m project is given the green light, it will mean the area will have a much-needed state-of-the-of art facility, along with creating more than 100 jobs.

The proposed scheme will be built on 1.75 acres of what is currently brownfield land, which was previously occupied by Essendene care home before it was demolished.

Along with the 58 bedrooms, the main building will include leisure, dining, treatment and administration facilities, all designed to care for those in need of general nursing and elderly people with decreased mental capacity.

A second single storey 12 bedroom unit is also proposed, which will be equipped to care for YPD / young, physically disabled people and those suffering from brain injuries.

Bunty Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra Group PLC and its care division, Prestwick Care, confirmed the development would be a huge asset to the area.

“The company is delighted to announce this new investment which will create jobs for the local community and will provide a much-needed facility,” said Mr Malhotra.

“The development will bring a real boost to the local economy, which is particularly welcome news in the current tough financial environment.”

Around 50 jobs will be created in the company’s construction division to build the development.

Ian Tubman, Malhotra Group Project Director said, “the building will bring back to life the unused site by providing an important facility for its residents, including specialist care.

“The quality of the facility will be first class and will include designed features to ensure it feels like a real home. The secure and well maintained gardens will include planting to encourage wildlife, while also being attractive for the residents to use.”

The scheme is being developed for Malhotra Group PLC by Space Architects, which has put together a plan which offers a range of environmentally friendly measures as well as creating a facility which will be vital in dealing with the predicted significant increase in the numbers of elderly people in Northumberland.

David Coundon, Director at Space Architects, added that “the challenge of this project was to provide unashamedly contemporary buildings accommodating the very best in care facilities, while at the same time fully respecting the landscaped site and the parkland and residential surroundings.”

“Allowing these contextual parameters to interact with the programmatic requirements of these two independent but complementary buildings has produced an interesting and rich design,” he said.

Planning and development consultants, Lichfields, which provides on-going planning, economic and heritage advice to Malhotra Group on a range of projects including the the Rex Hotel in Whitley Bay and Newcastle’s Grey Street Hotel, highlighted the importance of the project.

“The proposed development would provide a unique and high quality facility in Ashington to meet local need,” said Harvey Emms, Senior Director at Lichfields.

“It has been carefully considered to comply with local planning policy, and its design reflects the aspect of the site to provide a good environment for its residents.”

An application for planning permission was submitted to Northumberland County Council on 21 December 2020.

The new scheme will be the second major development in Northumberland by Malhotra Group PLC, following on from the opening last year of the purpose-build 86 bedroom Beech Tree House in Alnwick.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sorted PR .