Planning permission has been granted for the expansion of a care home and the addition of extra apartments, marking the creation of a unique care village in Ramsbottom.
The approved plans include a new 48-bed care home, Porritt Care Home, which will be built alongside the existing Lavender Hills Care Home, which offers respite, residential, and early-stage dementia care.
The new facility will provide advanced levels of dementia care, addressing a critical need in the community.
The Millennium Care Group, a B Corp certified provider, which operates four care homes in the North West, is developing the new village on the Stubbins Vale Road site to significantly enhance the support available to the region’s elderly population.
In addition to the care home, the development will feature four extra care apartments and communal facilities designed to benefit both residents and the broader community. The integration of these facilities will create the Porritt Care Village, a comprehensive care environment unique to the area.
The development also addresses a critical issue in elderly care, male isolation. Porritt Care Home will include a dedicated male-only floor, providing specialised support for 12 residents.
Stacey Astin, group regional manager at Millennium Care, said: “We’re delighted that our care village for Ramsbottom has been approved. Having previously been the
Home Manager at Lavender Hills Care Home, and a local resident myself, I know how important this development will be for the Rossendale community.
“Millennium Care will now be able to offer peace of mind to current and future residents and their families in an amazing setting while supporting the local community through various opportunities.”
The Porritt Care Village has been designed by Alessandro Caruso Architects (ACA), specialists in healthcare design. The layout harmonises with the existing home and landscape, ensuring that current views are preserved while enhancing natural surroundings.
The development will also introduce new communal spaces, including bird observation huts, a bistro, and scenic walkways accessible to the local community.
Alessandro Caruso, founder at ACA, said: “I’m thrilled to hear about the planning approval for our design for Porritt Care Village! This project represents a significant step forward in providing high-quality, compassionate care for our elderly population.
“The collaboration with Millennium Care has achieved a thoughtful integration of contemporary design with functional spaces which will not only enhance the residents’ quality of life but also foster a sense of community and belonging.”
Bob Woollard, director of P&D Group, added: “Achieving planning permission for the Porritt Care Village is a huge milestone in the creation of this highly innovative model of dementia care and a significant step forward for care in Rossendale and
the UK.
“The Millenium Care team has worked closely with Rossendale Council and the local community to engage with them in the plans for the site. Despite significant planning challenges relating to the site’s location in the Green Belt, we were able to clearly demonstrate that the substantial public benefits that will be delivered, present the very special circumstances that led to a unanimous vote of approval from the
Planning Committee.”
