Plans for two new care home buildings on the site of a former church have been submitted to the City of Wolverhampton Council. The decades-old St Teresa's Catholic Church, once a familiar landmark on Birmingham New Road, was earmarked for demolition last year, along with its church hall and separate outbuilding.
Restful Homes Developments has now submitted proposals for the construction of two care home buildings with garden areas, associated parking, and 2.4m high fencing. The application, dated June 22, outlines a total of 134 rooms across the two buildings: 'Building A' will have 71 bedrooms, while 'Building B' will have 63 bedrooms, both arranged over three floors.
Design and Facilities
The design and access statement explains that facilities such as the kitchen, laundry, and plant areas are deliberately located on the ground floor at the back of house areas. This allows deliveries to access the kitchen without passing through the main reception area, and kitchen waste can be easily disposed of in the external bin store.
The care homes will be the latest development by Restful Homes Group and will be a state-of-the-art facility. All areas have been designed to promote dignified living standards for the frail, elderly, and those suffering with dementia.
Parking and Access
Access for cars is proposed from Dimmock Street, with 50 car parking spaces, 20 cycle parking spaces, and associated landscaped garden areas.
Economic and Social Benefits
The full planning statement lists the creation of jobs as an economic benefit, along with health and well-being benefits for future residents and 'making efficient use of a brownfield site' as positive reasoning for the development. It reads: "The provision of 134 much-needed care beds, directly addressing the identified shortfall of 547 Registered Care spaces within the housing market area."
The development will also support the potential release of existing market dwellings currently occupied by residents requiring specialist care, thereby contributing to housing land supply.
Sustainable Location
The design and access statement adds: "Our site is well served by public transport, with frequent bus services operating along Birmingham New Road, ensuring accessibility for staff, visitors, and service providers. The site is therefore considered to be in a highly sustainable location, suitable for a care home development."
The proposal will deliver important social infrastructure, supporting the needs of an ageing population within Wolverhampton and the wider area.
