Kirton care home to transform part of site for educational use
A care home has been given permission to transform part of its site for educational use.
Applicants Mr and Mrs Carl Smith want to convert areas of the ground floor at Kirton’s Woodlands Court.
Plans are for the ground floor of the main three-storey building on London Road - excluding the kitchen, laundry room and food preparation area – to switch from elderly care to a special educational use.
The care home itself is a single storey building located immediately west of the application site and 95% of the original property is not currently in use.
“The proposed change of use would not have a detrimental impact on residential amenity, the character and appearance of the area, flood risk or highway safety subject to the appropriate conditions,” the Boston Borough Council planning officer report said.
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A supporting statement submitted by agent Terry Sykes (Design & Build) along with the original application said: “The change of use is for education purposes to serve as a school catering for pupils with special educational needs, with each child having a EHCP (an education and health plan).
“This is an educational health and care plan specific to each child and is a legal document prescribing how a school meets the pupil’s individual needs.
“Some of the barriers to learning may come in the form of ASD (autism spectrum disorder), autism, communication and interaction.
“All will have some cognitive barrier to learning and need the support of specialist highly trained and experienced staff.”
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It is understood the education centre would allow between 24-40 pupils aged 5–16 with a potential staff of 14.
School hours would be 8.45am–3pm, with staff working hours being 7.30am–5.30pm.
Woodlands Court has been operating as a care home since 1980, currently offering nursing, palliative, residential, respite, dementia and day care.
