Thorrington: Silverwoods proposals given permission

10:07am Wednesday 4th June 2008

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Plans for a residential care home have been approved by Tendring Council.

The 64-bed centre at Silverwoods in Thorrington was originally given permission last August, but the application had to be resubmitted when it was found that applicants Nelson Housing owned less land at the site than previously thought.

A unilateral agreement to create a public footpath had also not been carried out.

Members of the development control committee voted yesterday to allow the second set of plans, on the proviso that the footpath be completed first.

They were going against the recommendation of officers, who said the application was not in line with policies of the Tendring District Local Plan.

These state that residential institutions should not be located in the countryside, and that people should not need to be reliant on private vehicles.

However, Carlo Guglielmi (Conservative, Manningtree, Mistley, Little Bentley and Tendring), said: "It is imperative that this site is developed."

Nelson Housing spokesman, Michael Swinbourne, said: "The planning committee obviously felt that granting of permission for a nursing home offered enormous benefits in terms of first class health care and job opportunities for the local community.

"As soon as the unilateral agreement is complete we shall start developing the site."