Felixstowe: Go-ahead for 66-bed care home in Gulpher Road

East Suffolk Council has given the go-ahead for the project to be built on a 1.3-acre site in Gulpher Road, Felixstowe.

Health chiefs said overstretched medical services in the seaside town will need to be bolstered if the home is built as its three GP practices do not have sufficient capacity for the additional growth resulting from the scheme and cumulative development growth in the area.

A CGI showing the approach to the new care home in Gulpher Road. Picture: LNT Care Developments (Image: LNT Care Developments)

However, the Ipswich and East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has now said it will apply for money from the council's Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund to pay for extra services needed.

Applicants LNT Care Developments, Alan Krailing, Elisabeth Stennett and March Stennett submitted the plans for the three-storey care home to be built as part of the Persimmon Trelawny Place development in Candlet Road.

Some of the phase 2 of the Trelawny Place homes being completed at Felixstowe Picture: Richard Cornwell/Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Trelawny Place in underway and will provide 560 homes along with a community centre, 50 assisted living units, two small business units and open space, and land for a primary school.

LNT Care Developments said the care home would provide general residential and residential dementia care and create 58 new jobs.

The company said the home would be "contemporary and innovative" and exceed minimum standards.

Work taking place to level the ground in readiness for the new care home. Picture: Richard Cornwell/Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

It said: "The objective is to provide a character of accommodation that would provide a higher quality of life for residents.

"These facilities will be fully compliant with the Care Standards, provide single-room accommodation with en-suite facilities and a much-improved ratio of communal/recreational space to residents. In general, they will provide better layouts and access throughout all in accordance with relevant legislation.

The site of the new care home - it will be built on land in front of the homes. Picture: Richard Cornwell/Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

"A series of lounge spaces; assisted bathrooms; and associated staff facilities need to be provided. The proposed design allows for a central ‘hub’ area with lounge and dining facilities that are an easily accessible distance from bedrooms in both wings of accommodation and on each floor."

Council planning case officer Phil Perkin said the design of the building has evolved over the years. He said: "This has ensured that the care homes they create provide excellent facilities with a choice of communal spaces inside and outside the building and bedrooms that exceed the industry standards."

Site levelling for the care home off Gulpher Road and Candlet Road in Felixstowe. Picture: Richard Cornwell/Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

New homes at Trelawny Place in Felixstowe. Picture: Richard Cornwell/Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)