Delayed plans for 66-bed veteran care home in Portsmouth to be considered

Proposals for the three-storey development in Milton, which will be run by the Royal Navy Benevolent Trust, are set to be discussed at a planning committee meeting next week.

If approved the existing two-storey Forest Lodge building, which is no longer used as a care home for adults with learning disabilities, will be demolished.

In a design statement by the developers LNT Care Developments it said: 'The proposed development scheme would serve to positively enhance thecharacter of the surrounding area, whilst providing: important care andaccommodation for older people; a local community service; and significant new employment.

'The proposed development would be very much a local community facility. Future residents of the home would be expected to emanate from an area no more than three miles from the site, or be associated with families/relatives that reside within this same catchment.'

It is thought between 50 and 60 new jobs will be created by the new home.

As part of the plans a car park with 21 spaces as well as two disabled spaces and an ambulance space is proposed.

It will occupy the southern part of the larger former St James' Hospital site for which two other applications for housing have also been submitted.

As previously reported fears had been raised over delays to move forward with plans when all developments were stalled by an issue with nitrogen pollution in the Solent.

It was then further delayed when the coronavirus pandemic hit.

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