Status: Planning Submitted
Application Type: Full Planning Application
Proposal
Muller Property Group has submitted plans for a purpose-built care home designed to provide exceptional support for elderly residents, including those requiring end-of-life, dementia, and complex health care. The development will operate under Planning Use Class C2 and will be registered with the Care Quality Commission.
Development Overview
The proposed care home will offer:
- 70 en-suite bedrooms across lower ground, ground, and first-floor levels.
- A part three, part two-storey building thoughtfully designed for comfort and accessibility.
- High-quality landscaped communal gardens to promote wellbeing and outdoor activity.
- Extensive resident facilities including day rooms, a café, hair salon, therapy spaces, TV lounge, and gym.
- Centrally located nurse stations and ancillary spaces for efficient care delivery.
- 35 car parking spaces, including 2 accessible bays and dedicated ambulance access.
- 8 cycle spaces to support sustainable transport.
Site and Surroundings
The development site covers approximately 0.54 hectares and is located within the built-up area of Charlton, north-west Andover. The site currently consists of neglected horse paddocks and former stables.
The topography is gently sloping, with lower-lying areas to the south adjacent to Peril Lake, a coarse fishing lake. Residential areas border the site to the north, west, and south-west, with additional housing further east. Existing access from Goch Way provides convenient entry for vehicles. Two high-voltage electricity pylons cross the eastern paddocks, but no easement or buffer is required due to the distance.
The northern boundary is defined by an unmanaged deciduous hedgerow interspersed with mixed native trees. The site lies within Flood Zone 1, indicating low risk of flooding, and contains no designated heritage assets.
Access and Site Layout
A modified vehicular access is proposed via a T-junction off Goch Way. All waste management and deliveries will be accommodated within the site, allowing vehicles to enter, turn around, and exit safely in a forward direction.
The building will have a gross internal area of 3,812sqm, providing a spacious and adaptable environment for residents.
Benefits
The development delivers significant social, economic, and environmental benefits, aligned with the principles of sustainable development. Socially, the care home addresses a clear and demonstrable local need for specialist elderly accommodation. The Borough has a notably high proportion of residents in the late-middle and elderly age groups, with the population aged 85 and over being 24% higher than the national average. This cohort is expected to grow substantially, with a 63% increase forecast by 2040, compared to a modest 6% growth in the total population.
The prevalence of dementia in the UK is projected to rise to 8.8% by 2040, reflecting an ageing population and a growing number of people requiring specialist care. The development will help address the shortage of elderly care beds locally, as the Borough has experienced a net loss of 27 registered beds in recent years. Currently, there is a need for an additional 177 en-suite bedrooms, increasing to over 300 by 2030, while overall demand for elderly care beds is forecast to reach 1,255 by 2030, and 1,473 by 2035.
In addition to meeting this demand, the Andover care home will support housing efficiency by providing specialist accommodation that frees up underoccupied family homes, contributing to the recycling of the local housing stock. Overall, the development will enhance community wellbeing, provide high-quality care, and create a sustainable, long-term asset for the Borough.
This development reflects Muller Property Group’s commitment to creating thoughtful, purpose-built care environments that support both residents and their families, combining outstanding design, functionality, and compassionate care.
