PLANS for a specialist dementia facility in Upton have been given the green light despite objections from local residents.

Cheshire West and Chester’s planning committee unanimously approved proposals for  the  30-bedrooom, two-story facility on the grounds of Wealstone Residential Home at a meeting held at Ellesmere Port Library on Tuesday.

The plans include a ground floor with a lobby, entrance area, salon, cafe, office, nurse room, two lounges, and a dining room. The first floor will also comprise an internal day space, café, lounges, an outside seating area (in the form of a balcony) and a nurse room. A total of 25 trees will need to be felled to make way for the new building.

The application has been called in for discussion by Upton Cllr Jill Houlbrook due to concerns about ‘overlooking, overdevelopment of the site, loss of green space, trees and the effect on wildlife’. A total of 10 neighbour objections were also received.

At the meeting, objectors raised concerns over light pollution and the position of a new balcony which they said would mean some neighbouring homes were overlooked by residents and their visitors.

Addressing the meeting as ward councillor rather than a committee member, Cllr Houlbrook said expansion could be achieved by redesigning the current building instead.

She said: “The proposals before you have been challenged by many residents livening in the area and beyond.”

She added: “The green space is vital to the connectivity in the area. This application seeks to destroy part of our vital and precious natural ecosystem.”

Committee member Cllr Myles Hogg, said: “Nothing in this world is perfect and I think there is a general need for facilities such as this.

“I see no reason why we should refuse this application so with some reservations, I would move this proposal subject to all the additional conditions and informatives I think we’ve agreed to.”

The plans were unanimously approved subject to new conditions which included increasing the length of a planned privacy screen.