Care home blocked amid complaints town has too many

Plans for a 66-bed care home have been turned down after people living in a Norfolk town complained there were already too many operating in the area.

LNT Care Developments, the largest care home provider in the UK, wanted to build the home on the site of a former factory in Diss and said there was a housing need.

The proposals prompted criticism from the town council and other locals, who warned the south Norfolk settlement risked becoming an "old people's town" as there are already seven nursing homes and another 23 residential care homes.

The plans were rejected for being overbearing on neighbouring properties, and questions were raised about whether the facility was needed.

LNT Care Developments wanted to build the care home on land off Park Road.

The site is where luxury bedding firm Norfolk Feather Company had its factory until it went into liquidation in 2022.

The building was subsequently demolished.

At a South Norfolk Council development committee meeting this week, a representative for the firm, Jo Kemp, argued there was an "identified housing need" in Diss for more than 156 en-suite care beds.

But the plans had sparked a strong response from locals, with one objector stating: "I do like the idea, but it feels like the town is being made into an old people's town."

Diss Town Council opposed it, saying it had "grave concern at the current extensive range of facilities for older people in Diss".

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Councillors at the Conservative-led administration voted to support an officer's recommendation for it to be refused, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Graham Minshull, Conservative councillor for the town, said it would be "too big and obtrusive" and also questioned whether there was a need for the home, due to the number of facilities already operating in the town.

It was unanimously refused permission.

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