THERE will be a new care home in Hopwood following an appeal by developers.

Councillors initially refused to grant permission for the 57-bedroom building at 124 Manchester Road, over concerns about access and proximity to neighbouring properties.

But Cheshire-based Dowd Town Planning appealed against the decision at a hearing in September and the Planning Inspectorate has given the development the go-ahead.

Planning inspector David Fitzsimon said he had considered several concerns raised by residents before giving his approval.

Issues included access via the existing entrance to Hopwood Manor and whether this would be sufficient for visitors to the new home. At planning meetings, residents argued that ambulances and other emergency vehicles might have difficulty accessing the site.

Objectors also raised concerns about increased traffic and parking.

Mr Fitzsimon’s report said: "I am satisfied that the junction of the existing access to Hopwood Manor with Manchester Road would be of adequate standard to accommodate the additional traffic likely to be generated by the care home, subject to the minor improvements proposed by the appellant. The access road is wide enough for cars and vans to pass simultaneously, and the appellant company's assertion that deliveries from larger commercial vehicles would be infrequent has not been disputed. I am also satisfied that any potential vehicle conflict within the service road could be quickly resolved if an emergency vehicle needed to access the rear of the apartments or care home and any problems caused by construction traffic would only be a temporary inconvenience. The scheme provides a level of car parking provision which accords with the council’s adopted standards and if visitors were tempted to park in the adjacent private car park of Hopwood Manor, controls could be imposed by the management company to deter this.  I conclude that the highway and parking related concerns raised by nearby residents do not amount to reasonable grounds for withholding planning permission."

It is not yet known who will manage the home.