Plans for a new care home on the outskirts of Taunton have been turned down because councillors "didn't like the look of the building".

LNT Care Developments Ltd. applied to build a 66-bed care home on Coker Close, located near the busy A38 within the Monkton Heathfield urban extension. The developer - which is awaiting a decision on a similar facility in Chard - argued the facility would create up to 60 local jobs, with the home being within easy reach of local services.

But Somerset West and Taunton Council's planning committee narrowly voted to refuse the plans on Thursday afternoon (June 23), citing concerns about the design, the lack of public art and the ongoing phosphates crisis. The site lies within phase one of the urban extension, north west of the Hardy's Road roundabout and a short distance from the Coker Engineering industrial base.

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The company estimates that up to 60 local jobs could be provided, with 34 employees being on shift at any one time. Planning officer Mike Hicks recommended that the plans be refused for three reasons:

  • The poor design of the building, which "fails to create an acceptably locally distinctive, beautiful and high-quality development"
  • The lack of mitigation for any increase in phosphate levels from the development, which could "impact upon the unfavourable conservation status of the protected site"
  • The lack of public art (such as sculptures) within the proposals
Proposed site of new 66-bed care home in Monkton Heathfield, seen from Hardy's Road
Proposed site of new 66-bed care home in Monkton Heathfield, seen from Hardy's Road

Councillor Marcia Hill - a former mayor of Taunton - said the designs needed to be reconsidered to ensure residents were getting enough sunlight. She said: "I've not got a problem with a care home being in this location - I think it's a good location.

"However, I don't like the look of this building. We've not got enough public art within the district, and we can always do with a bit more.

"I remember my mother-in-law being in a care home, and it was god-awful, to be honest - she never got any sun in her room and was unable to go out. Sun and daylight is very precious the older you get.

"This can be looked at, it can be made more user-friendly - it could be so much better." Councillor Loretta Whetlor agreed: "People who are in a nursing home need to have light.

"It's no good saying 'you can walk down the road to somewhere else' - they may not be able to walk." Councillor Brenda Weston said there was "no guarantee" that the care home would be able to care specifically for Taunton residents.

She added: "The fact that it's between a roundabout, which presumably is quite busy, and an engineering company - that doesn't sound to me like a very quiet and peaceful environment for people having care." Councillor Norman Cavill - whose West Monkton and Cheddon Fitzpaine ward includes the site - disagreed, stating residents would prefer a care home on this site compared to more industrial units in the area.

Artist's impression of proposed 66-bed care home on Coker Close in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton
Artist's impression of proposed 66-bed care home on Coker Close in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton

He said: "This developer has bent over backwards to produce what they have produced - they've listened to the parish councils and residents, and altered things time and time again. Having seen some of the buildings around the place, I don't actually believe this is an ugly building.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Yes, it could be improved further, no doubt about that - everything can always be improved further.

"But at the end of the day, this is a business. Residents by and large would like to see this go through - certainly more so than more industrial sheds and the noise complaints that go with them."

Artist's impression of proposed 66-bed care home on Coker Close in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton
Artist's impression of proposed 66-bed care home on Coker Close in Monkton Heathfield near Taunton

Mr Cavill also pointed out that a new Tesco store and nursery would shortly be delivered on the former Land Rover dealership, within walking distance of this site, after planning permission was granted by council officers. Despite his protests, the committee voted to refuse permission by a margin of five votes to four, with three abstentions.

Councillor Simon Coles, who chaired the meeting, stated after the vote: "I would hope that the officers and applicant would be able to get together and work proactively to come up with a better quality design."

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