Extra care facility planned for canal-side conservation area site

PLANS have been submitted to Warrington Borough Council for an extra-care facility at the Old Rectory Nursing Home in Grappenhall village.

The development would involve the demolition of some existing buildings at the nursing home and the erection of new buildings containing 16 apartments, a dining room/café, communal lounge and terrace overlooking the Bridgewater Canal.
Although the Old Rectory is not a Listed building, it is within the Grappenhall Village Conservation Area which contains a number of Grade 2 Listed buildings and the nationally important Grade 1 St Wilfrid’s Church.
A resident of nearby St Wilfrid’s Drive has lodged an objection on the grounds their home will be overlooked and that the development will impact on a beautiful stretch of the Bridgewater Canal.
But consultants acting for the Old Rectory say the development will be partially invisible from the conservation area, being concealed by buildings and that the impact of the new buildings will be at the lower end of the scale of causing harm to nearby heritage assets.
They say the need for additional extra care facilities outweighs the insignificant harm caused.
The application will be considered by borough council planning chiefs.