PLANS for an extension to a Stourbridge care home which its owners say is needed to stop its 23 residents being made homeless have been deferred after objections by councillors and local people.

Members of Dudley council’s development committee voted to postpone a decision on the application by Hillcroft Nursing Home, Wordsley, in order to visit the site.

The application was for a single storey extension comprising three single bedrooms. 

Objectors though raised complaints ranging from congestion, impact on wildlife,  loss of trees and privacy supported by a petition with 86 signatures.

Local councillors also opposed the plans, including council leader Patrick Harley.

But in his submission to the committee, Paul Burton on behalf of the home,  said the extension was needed to replace spaces lost after regulations were changed to prohibit shared bedrooms.

Saying it had provided care to local people for over 30 years. he told councillors:  “The current planning application seeks to provide three single en-suite rooms to replace the five that it looks to lose as a result of reducing the double rooms to single rooms.

“The care sector has seen, over recent years, a decrease in the number of beds available due to the loss of older homes which are no longer viable.

“Dudley is no different and without the three additional beds being sought to offset the five being lost the home could fall below a variable number for it to operate, which would ultimately result in 23 residents becoming homeless and further add to the pressure on the local authority to provide  accommodation.”

Earlier in the meeting, Cllr Kerry Lewis said the home was in the Wordsley Church Conservation Area and the impact of the proposed extension would be detrimental to surrounding roads and added to traffic congestion.

 She said: “Hillcroft nursing home has been extended several times and is already overdeveloped and out of keeping with other properties in the area.

“I would like to request a site visit for the committee to see for themselves and realise this development would be out of character.”

Setting aside planning officers’ recommendation to approve the application, committee members voted to carry out a site visit and defer a decision until their December meeting.