Plans for a £4m Much Wenlock nursing home redevelopment approved
With a unanimous vote from Shropshire planners, £4m plans to expand and develop the historic Lady Forester Nursing Home in Much Wenlock have been given the go ahead.
Family run English Care has spent months drawing up the plans to include a further 20 beds to the nursing home and a further 18 independent living flats at Foresters Court, and improved day care facilities. The four GP beds will also remain at the home.
The award-winning company rescued the home from closure in October 2010 following an extensive campaign to save the home by residents, their relatives, local people and councillors, which prevented the residents and staff from being forced to go elsewhere.
The plans to expand The Lady Forester Nursing Home and Foresters Court independent living will also create around 80 new jobs locally and the work, due to start immediately, will be carried out by award-winning sister company, English Construction.
Many of the people who fought to save the home, including current residents, have supported the new plans and a petition with over 500 signatures of support organised by Linda Davies, chair of The League of Friends, was handed to Shropshire Council ahead of yesterday’s (TUESDAY) decision.
Since English Care took on the running of The Lady Forester, it has invested £500,000 to extensively refurbish the home.
The renovation of the first floor has provided six en-suite bedrooms. Each large room has internet access, a telephone line, flat screen TV and homely furnishings.
The second floor has been renovated to create offices and training facilities. The site currently provides nursing accommodation for 21 residents plus 10 people in the independent living accommodation.
David English, said: “We are ecstatic that the plans have been given the go-ahead by a unanimous vote. There has been very little negativity surrounding our plans and our aim has always been to improve the living conditions for our residents and make their facilities as first class and state-of-the-art as we can.
“We are delighted with the support we have received from our staff, residents, their family and friends and the comments made by the councillors and planners – who said how innovative the plans were and how great the scheme would be for Much Wenlock.
“The team here all work really hard to ensure the elderly residents are comfortable, happy and make friends – but the expansion will mean vastly improved facilities and the chance for the residents to be involved in a larger community.
“Many of the residents remember the home as a cottage hospital dating back to 1903 and fought hard to save it from closure. We have ensured that they and their families have seen and fully understand the plans and we want to preserve this historic local landmark for future generations.”
