8/13/2019 Senior Consultant David Madden featured in February's Healthcare Business

1/136 Healthcare BusinessApril 2010

Dont rely on the governmentsplanning reform to make securingconsent easier the battle atlocal level remains as fierce asever.

This January a front page articlein the Daily Telegraph reportedon another assault on

planning laws by the Coalition

government. The somewhat lurid storywarned that developers would be giventhe power to push throughapplications without council approval.A closer reading actually shows thenew proposals, due to be implementedin April this year, are not nearly soradical. Instead, they will simplychange some of the criteria forEnvironmental Assessments and enabledevelopers to move ahead withdevelopment on plans that have been

granted permission if councils fail todischarge planning conditions in areasonable time hardly the assault ondemocracy the article implies. Planningand the Coalitions approach to newdevelopment, is something of a btenoire for the Telegraph, which launcheda Hands Off Our Land campaign tooppose policy changes not long afterthe Coalition was formed.

Its fair to say the Coalition hasdone a lot to reduce red tape aroundnew development since it came topower in 2010. Replacing numerousPlanning Policy Guidance notes andPlanning Policy Statements with thestreamlined National Planning PolicyFramework (NPPF), and the muchtouted principle of a presumption infavour of sustainable developmentwere designed to help kick start theeconomic recovery, enabling newdevelopment to proceed more quicklyand efficiently.

Care providers who want to growmight have expected to reap thebenefits of this fresh new approach after all, a new care home provides amuch needed resource for local

communities, generates jobs and meetsan important social need.

But the fact is, at the coalface, thebattle to secure planning consent forcare homes, like many other forms ofdevelopment, remains as challenging asever.

Local authorities dont like beingdictated to from on high and theCoalition faces a unique challenge Conservative councils blame the LiberalDemocrat half of government forpolicies they dont like and Lib Demcouncils blame the Conservative half.

Labour councils blame them both.Councillors sitting on the committeesthat determine major applications (andcare home schemes normally fall underthis definition) will often give shortshrift to national policy and base theirdecisions on what they consider best

for their own community. Hence, locallyunpopular developments are often stillbeing delayed or refused outright,regardless of how well they meetnational policy requirements.

To make matters more complicated,the care sector faces its own uniquechallenges in the world of planning.There is growing anecdotal evidencethat many local authorities are subtlydiscouraging new care home develop-

ment in their areas despite clear dem-ographic need because they dontwant to be exposed to the financial riskof having to cover the cost of care forresidents whose savings drop below thecut-off for self-funding. At a time whenlocal authorities are seeing theirfunding cut by 40 per cent over a fiveyear period (2011-16), its not hard tosee why this might be happening.

For specialist services, whether itsdementia care for older people orresidential support for people withlearning disabilities and complex needs,

there is the additional challenge ofovercoming prejudice and fear. Theindependent sector has come in for avery rough ride in the media overrecent years and plans for a new homecan generate a lot of opposition if theprocess isnt carefully managed fromthe start.

A common misconception weve en-countered many times in the earlystages of a planning project is theperception that safe and securedementia care = prisons for elderlypeople. This lack of understanding, ifnot addressed from a very early stage,can often transform into vocal andwidespread opposition. However, if youmake the effort to consult with thecommunity stakeholders wholl influ-ence and even determine your plans,and nip those misconceptions in thebud, you can reap real rewards. Openand straightforward communicationcan help to resolve a lot of issuesbefore they become objections and canin some cases, with the right encour-agement, generate active support.

If you are planning to grow in 2014the simple advice is, dont rely on

government policy changes to makethe planning process any easier. Makesure you consult with the localcommunity youre looking to operatewithin. Dont rely on support from thelocal authority make sure you engagewith other stakeholders to demonstratethe need for your proposals and gettheir backing. Consult widely andconsult early, before you submit yourplans, and be prepared to address a lotof misconceptions.

Despite the Telegraphs worst fears,the UK planning system isnt turning

into a developers playground anytime soon.David Madden is a Senior Consultant

and Head of Planning at PLMR, theleading public affairs and publicrelations consultancy for the health andsocial care sector.

New care developments plan for success in 2014

DavidMadden

Care provider Avens Ltd. haveacquired a former care home inneed of renovation and are

beginning a three stage re-

development program.Previously a 27 bed residential care

home for the elderly, the property, inRaunds Northamptonshire will undergoextensive renovation in order for Avensto offer care to 12 adults with LearningDisabilities in first class surroundings.

The building which has been vacantfor several years is undergoing the firststage of a three phase development.Stage one is scheduled to becompleted in early April and entailssecuring the property, weatherproofing and updating the heating,water and drainage systems.

The second phase plan is to get theoperational and communal areas, aswell as some of the bedroom suites ofthe home up and running, beforeembarking on completing the rest ofthe suites.

By utilising existing space differ-ently, room has been allocated for theinstallation of en-suite facilities to all ofthe expansive propertys bedrooms.

The home, formally calledKingfisher Residential Care Home willbe known as The Ferns and will doubleAvens provision of residential care in

Northamptonshire. The Ferns will belead by CEO Christopher Andrews whosaid: Im proud to be leading Avensforward in into this new venture. Thisacquisition underlines Avens strategyto expand the range of services that weprovide. The opening of The Fernsmeans employment for people inRaunds but most importantly it meansthat Avens can provide access to top-quality services and a caring home for12 individuals with high dependencyneeds.

Mrs Julie Morrison, currentlymanaging Avens Ltd.s successful

Northamptonshire supported livingoperation, has been appointed as themanager of The Ferns and will bringher knowledge and expertise of thecare industry to assist Mr Andrews insetting up the project.

Julie has spoken to a number ofpeople from Raunds who all have beensupportive of the venture and positiveabout seeing the property, which hasbeen in significant disrepair, come backinto use. She said: Im thrilled to havebeen appointed as manager of TheFerns. Its an exciting start to 2014 and

we are currently busy planning ournewest service. Im looking forward tothe challenges ahead and bringing thisbuilding back to life.

Avens hopes to have The Fernsopen and welcoming residents bysummer 2014.

Care agencyexpansionplans