New homes for people with complex learning disabilities are set to be built in a Tyneside suburb following a clash between healthcare bosses and local residents. North Tyneside Council has approved plans from Cygnet Health Care to construct eight self-contained flats in Forest Hall.
Development Details
The development, located on vacant land next to the Constitutional and Unionist Club on Park Drive, will provide accommodation for adults with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health needs. Each flat will include a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and lounge-diner, with access to a private garden. A two-storey, flat-roofed building will also house communal and staff areas.
Local Opposition
The proposal sparked a row with neighbours who accused the care provider of ignoring their concerns. Richard Stubbs, representing local residents at a planning committee hearing, raised fears about inadequate parking and safety issues on the unadopted road, which is also used by pedestrians and cyclists, including schoolchildren. He argued that the scheme prioritised profit over appropriate development scale and noted that a lack of notices left some residents unaware of the plans, while a Cygnet leaflet incorrectly stated the development was on a different street in Gosforth.
Care Provider's Response
Planning consultant Sam Deegan, representing Cygnet, denied claims that the development size had increased from six to eight apartments and said the firm would “strive to be good neighbours.” He described the site as offering a “forever home” for some individuals with complex needs and step-down accommodation for those currently in long hospital stays or forced to move out of the area.
Council's Position
The council's adult social care department initially raised concerns about the development's scale and the need for strengthened safeguarding measures. However, councillors were told that subsequent talks provided a “reasonable level of assurance that the service could operate safely, subject to ongoing governance and regulatory oversight.”
Planning Committee Vote
The planning committee was split five-five on whether to approve the plans, with chair Jim Montague using his casting vote in favour of the scheme.
