New retirement home plans at fire-ravaged complex

New plans have been submitted for a retirement complex to replace a facility that was gutted by fire nearly seven years ago.

About 150 elderly and disabled residents were evacuated from Beechmere Extra Care in Crewe, when fire ripped through the building on Rolls Avenue in August 2019.

Planning permission was secured for a replacement 132-apartment extra care building on the site the following year, but it was never built.

This latest proposal is for a smaller facility containing 75 one and two-bed apartments. The last date for submitting comments on the proposal is 7 July.

Unlike in the original building, which had no sprinkler system, the new planning application submitted to Cheshire East Council includes a 30-page fire strategy and states that sprinklers will be installed throughout the building.

A design statement submitted by Cassidy & Ashton, on behalf of applicant Avantage, states: "The proposal will be three storeys in a 'U' shape, accommodating 75 one and two-bedroom apartments, with supporting communal and outdoor living spaces.

"The proposed building has been designed to a reduced scale that sits complementary to the existing domestic scale development surrounding the site."

The company says that the development would contain a host of amenities, including two communal lounges, a dining area, a fitness and wellbeing suite, a therapy and consultation room, a village hall, a salon and a mobility scooter storage room."

The building will be brick built and feature timber-effect cladding.

The original vehicular and pedestrian access off Rolls Avenue will be retained.

The application can be viewed on the planning portal on Cheshire East Council's website.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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