A care home in south Reading will be expanded, with 15 more rooms added in a new building, despite concerns over traffic safety.

Reading Borough Council’s (RBC) Planning Applications committee approved plans this week to add a new 15-bed care home at the Northcourt Lodge Nursing Home on Northcourt Avenue.

Northcourt Lodge is currently a 22-bed care home but a new 15-bed building will be added to increase the capacity to 37 bedrooms.

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Three new staff parking spaces and four visitor parking spaces will be added as part of the plans, as well as a new driveway.

Concerns had been raised by residents that the new driveway being created as part of the plans would be a safety hazard as it crosses in front of the main entrance and the pedestrian access.

Planning officers said visiting would be by appointment-only and cars would be travelling at a low speed when they enter and leave the premises.

Councillor Ruth McEwan said she thinks the parking will cause problems in the area and have an impact on residents but also expressed her support for the application.

She said: “This application provides much-needed care provision in the town.

“Therefore, I am inclined to support the application.

“However, I’m a little bit concerned about the strategy of appointments for visits.

“Throughout Covid, we are used to having an appointment system for people to visit, but after Covid that is not realistic.

“Obviously, that will have an impact on parking in the area.”

Councillor John Ennis, lead member for Adult Social Care, said the parking and traffic issues are “up in the air” and asked for traffic management measures to be implemented avoid cars piling out onto the street.

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The former Housing lead member added: “Nobody wants to oppose care homes but we have to be honest that people visiting their families will drive there”.

Cllr Stanford-Beale agreed that care home beds are needed and supported the application “provided the traffic issues are sorted out”.

Planning Manager Julie Williams said the council will discuss with the applicant about how best to manage visits, with a car park management plan condition to be placed on the development to alleviate concerns.

The council’s Planning Applications committee unanimously approved the plans at the Wednesday, July 21, meeting.