The Jesmond Residents Association (JRA) has submitted a second formal objection to proposed works on a McArdle Care Home on Burdon Terrace ahead of a Newcastle City Council planning committee meeting on December 19th.

Originally submitted on August 1st, the current revision of the proposal was received on October 31st and amended on November 4th. The proposal in question plans to demolish the disused Fleming Nuffield unit on Burdon Terrace and to build a four-storey care home and an 80-place day nursery on the land.

The proposal was put forwards by north east-based Helen McArdle Care, the directors of a chain of 17 care homes throughout Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Durham and Cleveland. The care home would overlook Burdon Terrace, whilst the nursery would be accessible from Princess Mary Court.

The Jesmond Residents Association made the decision to oppose the proposals on behalf of the residents on two grounds: the difficulties incurred by the increased in traffic for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists; and the “effect on [the] Conservation Area and adjacent listed buildings.”

The Jesmond Residents Association was not sufficiently assured by a Traffic Assessment (TA) of the nursery proposals, released on November 11th. The JRA believe “the TA underestimates the traffic that will be generated by the development and overstates the sustainability of the location”. There is also “no consideration in the TA to show that the local pedestrian network is safe.” The JRA report that the two accessible footpaths both emerge onto areas shared with vehicles and object the proposals for safety reasons.

Elizabeth Waterston, resident and Chair of the Burdon Terrace Conservation Association seconds the JRA’s objections that the design of the care home would be “detrimental to the residential amenity of the neighbourhood… The glass frontage and 24 hour lighting is not in character with the three story Victorian terrace across the road.”

When JesmondLocal approached the Helen McArdle Care group for a statement on the Jesmond Residents Association’s objection to their revised plans, they declined to comment.

The next Planning Committee meeting to review this proposal takes place at 9:30am on December 19th at the Civic Centre.