Holiday village plans rejected over footpath fears

Plans to turn a former care facility into a holiday village have been rejected over a lack of pedestrian access.

In 2023, a planning application was submitted to repurpose six buildings at Boulevard Care Limited’s Orby branch off Gunby Road, near Skegness, as the company stated it needed to "diversify".

The plans included flats, a shop, a restaurant and cocktail bar, and fitness suite.

East Lindsey District Council said although the site would bring in commercial opportunities, it would be unsafe for holidaymakers, especially during the busy summer months.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the applicant stated the plans would bring "amenities" and "vital employment opportunities and tourism to the area".

It also said it would improve the village's "sense of community".

But the application prompted more than 20 formal objections from local residents, as well as from Orby Parish Council, which also raised concerns about the footpath provision and questioned whether there was adequate parking.

Boulevard Care Limited insisted there had never been an issue with footpaths since it began operating at the site in 1995.

The site was home to a care facility for people with learning disabilities for almost 30 years.

However, in 2021, the Care Quality Commission decided not to register the branch, meaning it was no longer deemed suitable accommodation for people with learning disabilities.

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