£4m plan for Much Wenlock care home expansion to go ahead

Plans for the £4 million expansion of a care home in Shropshire – which is expected to create about 80 jobs – have been given the go-ahead.

More than 500 people signed a petition supporting the development at the Lady Forester Nursing Home and Forester's Court Apartments in Much Wenlock.

It comes 18 months after campaigners fought against the closure of the home, which was built as a cottage hospital in 1904.

The proposals for the home include a further 22 beds at the nursing home and the building of 18 independent living flats at Foresters Court. The four GP beds will also remain.

The application was approved yesterday by Shropshire Council's South Planning Committee.

Councillor Milner Whiteman, who was born in the cottage hospital, said: "This is an excellent development." Councillor Stuart West said: "It's nice to get an application in front of us with the support of virtually everybody."

He said they could not ignore the petition signed by people wanting to ensure and secure the long-term future of the 'essential community facility'. Councillor William Parr said it was something Much Wenlock could be proud of.

There were nine objections to the plan, on the grounds of overlooking and density. But a report to the meeting said the extensions would be appropriate in scale and would not unduly harm people living nearby.