Walnut Close care home to change use for needy families in West Berkshire

The council’s Walnut Close care home is to change into an emergency housing centre and a family contact centre.

Part of the building is being used as a family centre, which provides services to families under court appointed contact time.

It is proposed that this use continues, and the building is subdivided internally to allow a change of use of the remainder of the building on the ground and first floors on the eastern quadrant to provide temporary supported accommodation for 23 households.

The only physical change to the internal layout of the building will be to provide internal separation between the proposed accommodation and the family contact centre use.

The proposal will provide 19 rooms with access to shared cooking and washing facilities. A further four units will be used for larger families.

The staff will manage the facility and provide day-to-day support for families while they reside in the premises.

Externally, to the west of the building on land next to Thatcham Library, there is a small area which will be fenced off to provide privacy to other areas of the building.

The application states that while the loss of the nursing home is clearly regrettable, given the ongoing high demands for such accommodation, the proposed building re-use for those in acute housing need is fully supported and in a “good” location for all locals services and general accessibility.

It says there will also be clear financial benefits for the council, which while not a planning matter, is a public benefit in reducing public expenditure.