CARE home bosses have suffered a major blow in their bid to build a care home in Wilmslow after their plans were thrown out by a Government planning inspector.

Altrincham-based New Care Projects appealed to the Planning Inspectorate against being refused permission for a 65-bedroom care home in Handforth Road.

The plans were refused by Cheshire East Council in May, and the appeal by the company was dismissed by planning inspector John Dowsett.

He said the care home plans would harm the character and appearance of the area, and due to the permanence of the building this harm would be significant and lasting.

Scores of residents objected to the plans, and a further 35 were submitted after New Care Projects lodged its appeal, with many people voicing their concerns over the size of the planned care home and its effect on the character and appearance of the area.

The scheme was also opposed by Esther McVey, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Tatton, who said it was not the right location for a care home of this size or scale.

The NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group also opposed the plans, stating: “With ongoing increasing pressures being placed on general practice, an additional care home in this area would have an unfair negative impact on primary care service availability to other residents living locally.”

Wilmslow Town opposed the scheme on the grounds of overdevelopment of the site, the care home being out of keeping with the area, inadequate parking provision and loss of privacy for neighbouring properties.

New Group Projects is still hoping to build a care home in Handforth Road, having submitted a revised scheme, reference 19/3831M, in August for a 60-bedroom care home.

New Care Projects initially sought permission to demolish two detached houses and build a 69-bedroom care home, plans which were changed to 65 bedrooms following negotiations during consideration of the scheme.

READ>>Mobberley school creates community poppy display

Planning permission was refused by Cheshire East because of car parking and highway safety, overdevelopment of the site and the impact of the care home on the quality of life of neighbouring residents.

Mr Dowsett said: “Although I have found that the proposal would not cause harm to highway safety or living conditions of neighbours, neither of these matters, singly or collectively, would justify or outweigh that harm I have found.

“Nor is there any substantive evidence that there is an overriding need for care home provision that would warrant the harm that would be caused.”