A BID to build a 70-bed care home in Oswestry has been refused for a second time by Shropshire Council.

After the first proposal for the home at the Oswestry Gateway off Mile End was rejected in September 2021, a second application was submitted for the three-storey home, plus two two-storey blocks of assisted living accommodation, on vacant land off Shrewsbury Road at Maes-y-Clawdd.

Shropshire Council planning officer Mark Perry said it was refused because of the businesses that surround the land, including fast food outlets such as KFC and OK Diner, as well as the Premier Inn Hotel with the St Oswald's Cross pub.

This, he said, could have a negative impact on any potential residents at the home – with the same reasoning used first time around.

In his report, he said: "It is recognised that the proposed development would provide some economic and social benefits because of the jobs and type of accommodation it will provide.

"However, these benefits are outweighed by the fact that the proposal is on an allocated employment site where there are a number of uses falling within the B use class (industrial/storage and distribution).

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"It is considered that the proposed development is not a use that is compatible with surrounding land uses and would result in the loss of land allocated for industrial/ storage employment uses falling within the B class uses thereby reducing the range and choice of employment land available.

"Additionally the existing authorised industrial uses and businesses could generate a level of noise and disturbance at potentially unsociable hours that could detrimentally impact upon amenities of future residents of the proposed accommodation.

"The proposed development may compromise the future functions of the surrounding businesses due to the need to protect residential amenities."

In the design and access statement, submitted by AP Architecture Limited, applicants were confident the plans would be a suitable use of the available land.

It said: "The proposed development of a specialist care facility in this location is ideally suited in many ways, both in terms of the location, and its proposed form.

"The design, layout and scale compliment and fit well within the surrounding context and is not detrimental to the area within which the development is located.

"The proposed development will ensure that the local communities have access to the specialist care this home, and assisted living units can bring.

"The proposed home will ensure that the resident’s quality of life is greatly enhanced within a comfortable, and an ideal location, within easy reach of an established community with who they can maintain their links and involvement."