Pilkington Family Trust submits plans for new building at Ruskin site

Proposals for the creation of a replacement building at the Pilkington Welfare building, at the site of Ruskin Leisure, in Dentons Green, have been sent to council planners.

A previous application submitted in 2023 had been withdrawn.

The site, currently not in use, is owned by the Pilkington Family Trust, a registered charity that was originally founded to support Pilkington employees in retirement.

It now seeks to benefit the wider community and support people who are in need because of health, disability, and loneliness.

A planning statement in the application, drawn up by agents RJG Architecture, state the current building "comprises of a single storey detached building within the grounds of the Ruskin Leisure Complex".

They state that previously "the building was used for a wide variety of activities such as snooker, an arts club and as a meeting and practice location for the Pilkington Choir" and had "numerous visitors" throughout the day.

The application says the building contains asbestos "and as such is no longer fit for purpose" stating "the demolition of the current building is a more feasible and safer option rather than carrying out extensive refurbishment works".

What will the proposed new building include?

Plans add "the proposed new building will be within the current site footprint and is a proposed two-storey building with a ground floor open plan space for the day centre and dining area with a partition so the room can be separated".

There will also be "a kitchen, store, and welfare area with vending machines along with WCs and a small office for staff".

Meanwhile, on the first floor there will two meeting rooms and a staff room and  rooms to be "utilised to have days where care providers of those living with dementia can have some respite".

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The proposed building will be 7.5 high and "has been designed to ensure there is no overlooking aspect over the residential properties adjacent".

Plans add the wellbeing centre "would support residents of the care home and also their carers to provide a meeting point outside of the care home".

The application says the use of the building "will be initially for three days in the week and solely for residents of the care home and their carers, with an option to extend the days of opening and also the services to the wider community in the future as demand for this increases".

Plans note: "The Trust is aware of the wider issues pertaining to the parking in the area and the objections raised during the consultation period for the previous application".

It adds they "are committed to keeping traffic to a reasonable volume with minimal impact to local residents"

Residents "will travel between the care home and the centre via minibus which will be parked outside the centre", plans say, adding if there is no available parking spaces on the public highway, "the minibus will drop off residents and staff and return to the lodge until it is time for the residents to return".

The application has been sent to town hall planners (Image: Stock)

The application is on standard consultation to the public until Monday, August 19.

A deadline for council planners to rule on the proposals has been set for September 20.