Change of use plans for Cold Ash care home refused

Plans to turn a care home into a 17-bedroom house have been rejected.

The proposal, by Sundith Ramdany, is for a change of use of Holly Grange, a former Victorian vicarage west of Cold Ash Hill.

The site was converted to a nursing home in 1980s but has not been used since January 2024.

But West Berkshire Council refused the application which it said failed to “provide accurate and reliable plans” showing how the “proposed parking and vehicle manoeuvring areas” could be accommodated within the site.

The case officer’s report noted “fundamental deficiencies in the accuracy of the site layout and parking arrangements.”

A total of 53 objections were also lodged with the council’s planning portal, with concerns including limited parking and poor transport links for residents.

Alice Baldwin wrote: “[Traffic] can be very busy, plus people do not stick to the 30mph speed limit, which can be unsafe for everyone.

“The limited parking on the site will also cause the overflow of cars to use neighbouring streets.”

Jacqueline Smith added: “Public transport is very limited in Cold Ash.

“We have limited bus services and one small shop in the village which you can reach via a footpath.”

Cold Ash Parish Council similarly objected to the application over concerns for accessibility and type of accommodation proposed, which it called “inappropriate” for the area.

Find out about planning applications that affect you at the Public Notice Portal.