Apartments plan approved for former "Touch of Spice" site in Broughton

The former site of an Indian restaurant in Broughton is to become home to a new residential complex for older people with care needs.
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Preston City Council’s planning committee has given the green light to the development on land which used to be occupied by Touch of Spice at the main village crossroads.

Two separate buildings have been approved at the junction of Garstang Road and Woodplumpton Lane, to create the latest so-called “extra care” facility in Lancashire.

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Several similar schemes are already operational elsewhere in the county, providing individual apartments designed to promote residents’ independence – but while also supplying on-site care and support when it is needed.

View of the extra care scheme from the north, looking along Garstang RoadView of the extra care scheme from the north, looking along Garstang Road
View of the extra care scheme from the north, looking along Garstang Road

Fifty-two flats are set to make up the Broughton development, which was refused last year amid concerns over the scale of the buildings proposed.

A virtual meeting of the planning committee heard that a new hipped roof design and the removal of “dominating gables” had reduced the “bulk and massing” of the two blocks, each of which is part-two and part-three storeys high.

But chair of Broughton Parish Council, Pat Hastings, told the committee that she had concerns over both heritage and highways.

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“The line of sight of the crossroads, which is already an accident hotspot, would be reduced considerably and is now back to being a square edge [as before the restaurant demolition].

The former Touch of Spice restaurant in BroughtonThe former Touch of Spice restaurant in Broughton
The former Touch of Spice restaurant in Broughton

“This was an opportunity for a signature building that meets an identified need for apartments for older people,” she said, adding that it was out of character with the buildings in vicinity, which range from the 17th to 19th century.

Peter Bell, a resident of Downing Court, a collection of five bungalows to the rear of the site, warned that the revised scheme was “not dissimilar” to that previously proposed – and said that near neighbours would find it “overbearing and overlooking”, particularly as the second block was now closer to existing properties than originally planned.

Planning officer James Mercer said that highway visibility concerns had been addressed by the slightly changed position of the building fronting Garstang Road – together with a recently-widened footpath.

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“The design has changed considerably to be more in-keeping with the village nature of the scheme,” he said, adding that the parish council’s own neighbourhood plan stressed the importance of making “full use of any brownfield sites, particularly in central locations close to village facilities”.

View of the facility from Woodplumpton Lane (image: Cassidy and Ashton)View of the facility from Woodplumpton Lane (image: Cassidy and Ashton)
View of the facility from Woodplumpton Lane (image: Cassidy and Ashton)

Mr. Mercer said that although the development could not be described as “small-scale”, officers felt that the plot could comfortably accommodate the plans.

Planning agent Matthew Wyatt added: “Although [the buildings] are larger than others nearby, we feel that [the scheme] is befitting of this prominent central crossroads position.”

Under the amended plans, the height of the Garstang Road block remains the same as originally proposed, but appears lower because of changes to the eaves. The rear block is 1.7m lower than previously planned.

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Preston Rural East ward councillor Ron Woolam said that villagers welcomed "the idea" of older people's aprtments, but objected to the "overbearing nature" of those on the table.

He added: "A considerable amount of mioney has recently been spent to improve the village and it’s now vital to ensure any new developments are compatible with the character and appearance of the local area."

Committee member Susan Whittam said she was “saddened” that the applicant – Midas Land Ltd – had not worked with the parish council to come up with a scheme which locals felt they could support. Almost 100 objections to the revised scheme have been submitted.

But fellow member David Borrow – who proposed refusal of the previous plans – said his concerns had been addressed.

The application was approved by five votes to four.

The facility will be operated by the Community Gateway Association, which is also behind another yet-to-open extra care development on Dovedale Avenue in Ingol.

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