Plans submitted for new Horsham care home at Evelyn Lancaster House site

JPCT 120413 S13160322x Evelyn Lancaster House, Horsham -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140815-154442003

Evelyn Lancaster House, an extra care residential facility for the elderly in St Mark’s Lane off North Heath Lane, was closed by its previous owners Southern Housing Group in early 2013 with the organisation citing ‘decreased demand’ for its services.

Care UK took over the premises and unveiled proposals to demolish the building and construct a modern purpose-build care home last December offering nursing an dementia care.

Now the company, which provides care and support for around 6,000 people in 111 nursing and care homes across the country, has submitted a planning application to Horsham District Council for the site.

The design and access statement, available on HDC’s planning portal, reads: “The existing building is now vacant and boarded up.

“Although it is only around 20 years old, having been assessed by Southern Housing Group it is not viable to attempt to convert the premises to meet current care standards, therefore the new development proposed by Care UK will enable the site to continue to provide care in a more appropriate manner to the local residents of Horsham.”

The proposed building, between two and three stories high, would include 80 bedrooms, communal hub, kitchen, lounge and dining areas.

The statement adds: “The proposed care home has been purpose designed to cater for the needs of the frail elderly as well as those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“The building has been carefully designed to meet the needs of these resident’s and the guidelines of both the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and other leading guidance in this field of design.”

Care UK held two public exhibitions in December 2013 and June 2014 and presented its plans to North Horsham Parish Council in January.

The company has also held pre-application discussions with HDC.

Plans for a specialist care facility were broadly welcomed when they were announced last year due to a projected increase in the amount of people being diagnosed with dementia.