News

Care home on former site of birdseed wholesaler approved

By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter

---

Work to build a new care home on the former site of a birdseed wholesaler and pet shop can now go ahead after an agreement was reached between developers and the local council.

Back in November 2024, Synergy Care Developments applied to Rushcliffe Borough Council to build a 72-bed residential care home in the Crescent, a private road accessed from Bingham Road in Radcliffe-on-Trent.

The proposals were approved by the borough council last Thursday (June 12) along an agreement on how much funding the developer will provide towards local community projects.

The site was previously used by Walter Harrison & Sons, a producer and wholesaler of wild birdseed and pet products, until earlier this year. The company has now ceased trading at the site, and some staff have moved to a new Just for Pets outlet closer to the village centre on Bingham Road.

The wholesaler is a division of Pedigree Wholesale Limited and had been on the site since 1906.

Now plans have been approved, the buildings on site will be demolished to build a care facility ranging from two storey to three storey in height.

The new building will have a modern appearance, built in a ‘T’ shape, three private residential gardens, a lounge, a dining area and café areas.

The scheme will include 24 car parking spaces along with two disabled spaces.

Planning papers show £28,000 will go towards bus stop improvements on Golf Road, Radcliffe, along with £44,640 towards nearby primary healthcare facilities which can include GPs, pharmacies and dentists.

Documents say the proposed operator of the care home is Acacia Care, which currently runs six residential care homes across the East Midlands and also offers respite and dementia care.

Earlier reports show Councillor Roger Upton (Con) supported the plans for the new facility.

He said: “The existing buildings are of a poor quality and of little architectural merit. In my opinion the proposed circa 72 bed, three-storey care home building, is of an acceptable design, scale and density, and is well located for access to local shops and amenities and near to a bus route.”

However, he expressed concern for increased patient numbers at local GPs, stating: “If approved, there should be a significant [financial contribution] agreement for monies towards health provision in Radcliffe.”

The oldest building on the site is a tall brick building known as Harrisons Mill, which dates back to the 1930s. It was empty at the point of plans being submitted.

Reports say the partial or full conversion of the mill building is not possible because the building is in a “poor state of repair and would require significant investment” to upgrade it.