Abbeyfield House

Northern Healthcare wants to use Abbeyfield House on Boscombe Road in South Shore to provide accommodation for up to 14 adults with needs relating to mental health, autism and learning disabilities.

But its application for a certificate of lawfulness enabling it to operate from the premises was turned down by town hall planners in January this year.

They said the property had previously been used as a home for the elderly, and then as an unauthorised house of multiple occupation (HMO) including for student nurses.

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The use of the home for types of care, other than for the elderly, would be in breach of planning conditions.

Council documents say this means there are "no reversion rights to a lawful use as a care home".

But Northern Healthcare, which in its initial application said its home would help reduce pressure on existing mental health services, is now challenging the decision with an appeal through the national planning inspectorate.

A letter from the company published on Blackpool Council's website says the refusal "goes against the legal principles of having a certain use on a dwelling".

It adds: "Northern Healthcare have spent considerable amount of money (over £1.5m) to buy and refurbish this property as this has been a nursing home since 5th April 1979 and Blackpool have ignored this fact when they reached their decision."

Northern Healthcare says it has the support of a long-standing neighbour for its scheme, but three other neighbours and Blackpool South MP Scott Benton have objected to the application.

The appeal will now be considered by an independent planning inspector.

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