APARTMENTS are set to be constructed next to a care home.

A three-storey building made up of six apartments is set to be built in Lostock Gralam after plans were greenlit by Cheshire West and Chester Council.

In recent years Country Court Care had applications to extend Lostock Lodge Care Home and for a childcare nursery refused due to concerns raised by the Health and Safety Executive in regards to the “proximity of three major hazard pipelines”.

Plans were then submitted in August 2022 for a two-storey, eight apartment, building.

However, the HSE also objected to these plans, as did Lostock Gralam Parish Council.

“Due to the recent development in this area, with a coffee drive thru and 64 new apartments and use of the overflow car park by office staff, this area has become busy with vehicles,” read a comment submitted by clerk Lyndsey Sandison.

“Vehicles now park along Cheshire Avenue either side of the Lostock Lodge junction up to the overflow car park, making the three junctions which are in close proximity to each other a concern.

“The parish council therefore object to this planning application on the grounds of additional traffic which will be generated in an already busy little pocket of the Lostock triangle.”

Following this, the plans were amended to reduce the number of flats, the density of the development and to re-site the development.

Neither the council or HSE objected to the revised plans for a three-storey, six apartment, building and these were formally approved by Cheshire West and Chester Council on Thursday (October 26).

A report recommending the plans be approved read: “The HSE were consulted on this development as amendment and do not advise against the development. The development would not conflict with Local Plan Policy DM34. It is therefore considered that this application has overcome the reason for refusal on the former applications.”

It continued: “Overall, the development has been assessed and is considered to accord with the provisions of the development plan and other material considerations, as set out in the above planning report.”

The apartments may be used to house staff at the neighbouring care home, but will also go on the market.

The planning application submitted by Country Court Care read: “The development of the site will be beneficial to the local economy as it will bring new people to the area that will use the existing facilities, services and employment opportunities that are within the Business Park, as well as those within the wider area and Northwich to the south-west.

“The residential development of the site will clearly be beneficial in the supply of local housing and will to add to the mix of available housing within this area accordingly.”

Meanwhile, Country Court Care had an application for a three-storey extension elsewhere on the site approved back in June of this year.