Councillors urged to refuse plans for 198-bed St Asaph care home

In March last year Denbighshire councillors refused an application by Star Units Ltd for the development on St Asaph Business Park.

The company, headed by GP Simon Dobson and former psychiatric nurse Dylan Southern, resubmitted an amended application, but officers are recommending councillors stick to their guns.

Motor parts manufacturers TRB Ltd, who occupy the adjoining site, say it would create traffic problems, but the strongest objections were from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board BCUHB.

The home would cater for dementia patients, those in need of end-of-life care and those in hospital with no alternative provision.

But BCUHB says it has no arrangements to commission such a service from a private provider and has no plans to do so.

The Board is working closely with local authorities to ensure people are able to stay at home whenever possible, and questions the demand for such a large home.

BCUHB say Denbighshire has plenty of vacant places in care homes and the shortage of nursing staff in the Health Board could be exacerbated.

Council officers have expressed concern about the development’s proximity to the A55 and traffic noise if residents felt the need to open their windows.

The applicants have proposed air conditioning but officers have questioned its effectiveness.

A report to this Wednesday's planning committee meeting officers states: “Officers have concerns that siting a care home on a business park, away from existing communities and adjacent to a major road junction and a B2 class commercial unit would also adversely impact on the well-being of future residents, as it would foster a sense of exclusion and isolation from the wider community and therefore it is questionable how a care home in this location would contribute positively to the well-being of future residents.”

Recommending refusal, the planners say it would not be possible to provide a satisfactory standard of amenity for the residents.