Agenda with Maps and Applications (21Mb) - pdf - Selby District ...

continually deteriorating building. These various schemes they refer to are not provided
and no costings are included.
On relocation, they conclude that frail and elderly residents would be highly susceptible to
distress as a result of relocation and they believe, the best interests of residents, staff and
visitors would be served by remaining in this beautiful location. There is no evidence of the
nature of any exercise in assessing the location or availability of alternative sites.
In terms of the close care accommodation the applicants have stated
‘Whilst the Close Care accommodation could be seen as additional to that already existing
on the site, its [sic] does play an integral role in the overall philosophy of care envisaged
for Highfield and, as already illustrated, sits comfortably with the NYCC policy on aging. In
terms of sustainability, an illustration as to likely car ownership can be provided by a
similar model of Close Care at Stamford Bridge (near York) where only one resident from
the thirty apartments has access to their own car’.
The applicant’s statement of very special circumstances concludes ‘the proposed
improvements to the setting of the park and listed Church have already been established
and the inclusion of the Close Care element provides no additional impact on the
greenbelt[sic] and nor does it impact upon the sites sustainability’.
The applicants therefore conclude that the fourth option of rebuild is the best. New
accommodation would bring the required single, en-suite rooms, improved communal
facilities, kitchens and laundry.
In summarising their case of very special circumstances, the applicants state that:
1. The demolition and rebuild is the only way residents can stay at Scarthingwell and
provide an environment which is fit for purpose.
2. The scheme takes the opportunity of creating a far more appropriate building in
terms of scale and materials.
3. The scheme distances itself from the listed Church, improves the setting of the
Church and is thus a very special opportunity to improve the setting of the listed
building in the Green Belt. The conservation statement and perspectives supplied,
they say, demonstrate this significant improvement.
Assessment of the Applicant’s Case for Very Special Circumstances
The quality of care, increased expectations and in some instances legislative
requirements, for example Disability and Discrimination Act, Fire and Building Regulations
and Human Rights Act may require significant changes to a building and it may be the
case that, taking financial factors into account that demolition and rebuild of a care home is
the best solution. The alternative may be a derelict building within the Green Belt and the
need to find provision elsewhere, with consequent relocation of the residents with the
associated harm to health and welfare. Such considerations are therefore capable of
constituting ‘very special circumstances’, in that the benefits arising could potentially
outweigh the harm by reason of inappropriateness and any other harm.
However in this case the new building includes 15 close care apartments. This aspect of
the scheme contributes to the overall increase in size, scale and bulk of the proposed
building. It effectively takes up two storeys of the three-storey northern wing of the
369