The decision not to allow a Kenilworth care home to expand has been criticised by a local resident who said more needs to be done to tackle the dementia 'epidemic' in Warwickshire.

Earlier this month Kenilworth Manor Care Home had an application for a dementia garden and a two-storey dwelling refused.

Warwick District Council officers said the house would have had a "harmful impact on the setting of the nearby listed building" and the street scene.

But with permission already granted to build 550 new houses immediately behind Kenilworth Manor, local resident Clive Peacock said the decision was hard to understand.

"I find all of these street scene arguments quite hard really," he said.

"Yes it is a pleasant little avenue currently, but you're going to build hundreds of houses adjacent to the manor house on Thickthorn.

"I think that is a very difficult decision to justify."

In its application, owners Redwood Care Ltd said that by 2025 there will be 11,000 dementia sufferers in the county and for the council to refuse permission constituted "indirect discrimination".

The dwelling was planned to provide more space for residents and the garden a "secure and interesting environment all can enjoy."

But in refusing the application the planning officer's report said: "In the opinion of the local planning authority the proposed dwelling fails to harmonise or enhance the existing settlement, nor does it respond positively to its surroundings.

"The limited public benefits identified are not considered to outweigh this harm."

But Mr Peacock said dealing with the severity of the dementia 'epidemic' should count as a clear public benefit.

"To turn something down at one of the town's better known care homes with a dementia garden that could be used by other people, it is hard to take.

"We are facing a dementia epidemic, there is no question about that. The Alzheimer's Society predicts there will be over one million by 2024; did the councils consult bodies such as the society?

"Every single opportunity to face up to this and take practical action, not just talk about it, take some real practical action to deal with it.

"When somewhere like the manor has decided to build a four-person unit with the adjacent garden, I think we should look very carefully at supporting that and giving it the town's blessing.

"The town council should give this initiative its blessing and provide active support for the development of dementia gardens elsewhere in the town.

"Will someone on KTC see this as a worthwhile initiative, I hope so. 11,000 live with dementia in the county. Imagine the impact and the public benefit, please."

Before submitting its application Redwood Care had consulted with the council, having initially planned to submit plans for two smaller dwellings.

But the council officers advised that a larger dwelling would be less likely to be rejected.

Kenilworth Manor Care Home has been approached for comment.

(Image by Ian Robb via geograph.org.uk)

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