Highwood granted planning consent for new, best-in-class care home and public gateway scheme for Alton

Highwood has received planning permission for our latest care home development in Alton, Hampshire, following an extensive public consultation on its proposals for a prestigious care home scheme alongside plans for a new area of landscaped, ‘Gateway’ public open space for the town.

The application sought consent for a 67-bed care home alongside 28 apartments providing affordable, age-restricted accommodation on Selborne Road for leading care partner, Hartford Care. The main care home block will offer en suite wet rooms with nurse and medical stations and shared communal spaces, including lounges and dining rooms, training rooms, hair and beauty rooms, kitchens, offices, cinema and gym. The retirement apartments will be set in a second, neighbouring block.

An area of land to the north of the site provided a superb opportunity for Highwood to create a landscaped area of public open space to form a gateway into the town and this formed part of the planning application. A competition to determine the most popular layout for the space was run during the public consultation process and won by respected landscape architect firm, Deacon Design. The winning design will create a generous green space with wildflowers and improved connectivity to the Writer’s Way with lighting and seating for local residents to enjoy the space day and night.