New £10m care home planned for Ashington

Malhotra Group’s care segment, Prestwick Care, has applied for planning permission to create a 58-bed care home, along with a second 12-bedroom specialist unit at land at Kenilworth Road.

And, if the £10million project is given the green light, it will create more than 100 jobs.

The proposed scheme will be built on 1.75 acres of what is currently brownfield land, which was previously occupied by Essendene care home before it was demolished.

Along with the 58 bedrooms, the main building will include leisure, dining, treatment and administration facilities.

A second single storey 12 bedroom unit is also proposed, which will be equipped to care for young, physically disabled people and those suffering from brain injuries.

Bunty Malhotra, CEO of Malhotra Group PLC and its care division, Prestwick Care, said: “The company is delighted to announce this new investment which will create jobs for the local community and will provide a much-needed facility,

“The development will bring a real boost to the local economy, which is particularly welcome news in the current tough financial environment.”

Around 50 jobs will be created in the company’s construction division to build the development.

Ian Tubman, Malhotra Group Project Director, said: “The building will bring back to life the unused site by providing an important facility for its residents, including specialist care.

“The quality of the facility will be first class and will include designed features to ensure it feels like a real home.

"The secure and well maintained gardens will include planting to encourage wildlife, while also being attractive for the residents to use.”

The scheme is being developed for Malhotra Group PLC by Space Architects.

David Coundon, Director at Space Architects, added: “The challenge of this project was to provide unashamedly contemporary buildings accommodating the very best in care facilities, while at the same time fully respecting the landscaped site and the parkland and residential surroundings.”

“Allowing these contextual parameters to interact with the programmatic requirements of these two independent but complementary buildings has produced an interesting and rich design.”

Planning and development consultants, Lichfields, highlighted the importance of the project.

“The proposed development would provide a unique and high quality facility in Ashington to meet local need,” said Harvey Emms, Senior Director at Lichfields.

“It has been carefully considered to comply with local planning policy, and its design reflects the aspect of the site to provide a good environment for its residents.”