Residents of a large new care home in Bracknell currently under construction can look forward to a cinema if the council approves changes to previously approved plans.
Care home provider Barchester wants to reduce the number of bedrooms at a care home being built as part of a housing project in Bracknell. The changes will make room for new facilities including a cinema and an activity room.
The plans to build a 68 bed care home on Cain Road along with 52 homes were approved in 2021. But now developers want to reduce the number of bedrooms in the care home to 62.
A planning statement submitted with the proposed changes says the proposed changes are only ‘minor amendments’.
It says: “The applicant is seeking to provide the same development, in the same manner, and in line with the description of the development.
“It has been rationalised and is more efficient and will comply with the operational requirements and more importantly the residents”.
The changes also include alterations to the design of the building. Bracknell Forest Council’s planning department already agreed to a reduction in the length of the building under changes approved in January last year.
These include the addition of an entrance porch, car share spaces and electric vehicle charging points, as well as an electrical substation.
Inside the reduction and relocation of bedrooms creates space for an enlarged lounge and assisted bathroom, a private dining area, an activity room and a cinema.
Previously-approved plans already suggested the care home would house a cinema. But now changed plans indicate that a bedroom has had to be removed in order to make room for it.
Explaining the changes to the council, architect firm TDC said: “As part of the construction design development and updates to the client’s brief there are a number of minor changes to the design that are required which we are now seeking planning approval for.”
Development company Danescroft originally applied for permission to build the care home – along with 50 homes – in 2020.
Its plans said residents would benefit from a shared lounge and dining area, a cafe, hair and beauty services, a laundry service, a communal garden, a library, and even a cinema.
But a statement from Mission town planning consultancy suggests that the plans were altered to suit the needs of Barcroft, which will run the care home.
It says: “Such changes from originally consented to allow for minor amendments are not uncommon in the delivery of care home developments.
“The scheme has now been designed to work for the requirements of the operator as opposed to being a notional scheme that has not been designed to operational specifications.”
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