A NEW care home that will help residents suffering from dementia and create almost 50 new jobs in the area has been given the go-ahead, despite concern from local residents.

John Howard

A NEW care home that will help residents suffering from dementia and create almost 50 new jobs in the area has been given the go-ahead, despite concern from local residents.

Mid Suffolk district councillors unanimously voted to grant permission for the high dependency and residential complex in Baylham, near Needham Market, which will cost in excess of £1million to build.

The site will include 40 en-suite bedrooms, with communal areas and staff facilities and will be created by converting a property and adding an extension, at Plum Pudding Hill, Upper Street, in the village.

The new facility would create 28 full-time jobs and 18 part-time positions and comes as the number of people suffering from dementia within mid Suffolk is expected to increase in the coming years.

Residents were divided, with some arguing that there was a need for the facility, that local people who needed care would be able to stay locally, and that the increase in traffic on local roads would be small.

But other villagers said it would cause traffic problems, the development was too large for the site, and other locations could be better suited for such a substantial complex.

Great Blakenham parish councillors also objected to the proposal, arguing that an access road was too narrow for the amount of traffic expected

But Tim Passmore, Conservative leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, said: “I am delighted that this has been approved. It is just the sort of facility that we are in desperate need of within mid Suffolk, and the county as a whole.

“Common sensed has prevailed. This will provide a great boost with new jobs created, as well as an investment of seven figures during construction.

“This is a wonderful example of what can be done for those poor people with dementia, and other difficult issues, when they are elderly. This is just the job. It is good news all round.”

Officers had recommended that the care home be refused permission arguing that the scale of the extension was out of keeping and parking was not acceptable.

But all nine councillors on the planning control committee disagreed and voted in favour of granting planning permission.