A call to keep a staff caravan sited as a “a proportionate and necessary addition to support the ongoing operation” of a Pembrokeshire nursing home, has been given the go-ahead by county planners.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Dr R C Chaudhry sought retrospective permission for the siting of a static caravan for staff accommodation at Fairfield Nursing Home, Church Road, Johnston.
A supporting statement through agent Gerald Blain Associates Limited said: “The proposal is directly linked to the operation of the care facility and is required to ensure safe staffing levels can be maintained, particularly during periods of sickness, maternity leave and annual leave when agency or cover staff may be needed from outside the local area.”
It added: “The principle of the development is considered acceptable, as the proposal represents an ancillary facility which supports the functioning of an established care home and is consistent with the aims [of planning policy].
“The unit is considered modest in scale, appropriate in design and would provide an immediate solution to the needs of the home. Existing fencing and vegetation, together with proposed new planting, will provide effective screening to protect amenity of residents, occupiers of the caravan and neighbouring properties.
“The proposal will not materially increase traffic movements or parking demand, and the site is already well served by existing access and car parking provision. Existing mains drainage is in place, and the proposed unit would be connected to this system, all other services would be drawn from the care home.”
It concluded: “The static caravan represents a proportionate and necessary addition to support the ongoing operation of Fairfield Nursing Home without giving rise to unacceptable impacts on neighbouring amenity, access, or infrastructure.”
An officer report recommending approval said the caravan “located within a discreet position within the wider site, subservient to the existing care home building,” would “not have a significantly detrimental visual impact on the surrounding area”.
It added: “In regard to amenity, the use as overspill staff accommodation for the care home would be a use compatible with the site and wider area, which is made up of residential dwellings, and shall be controlled as such with a suitably worded condition.”
The application was conditionally approved by planners.
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