PLANS for the demolition of a modern extension to a listed building used as a care home and its reconstruction has been put before Cornwall Council’s planners.

Stonehaven Care, the operators of St Petroc’s Care Home on St Nicholas Street in Bodmin are seeking approval for the plans, a series of proposals that would see the removal of a ‘link’ to the rear of the Grade II listed building and its replacement with a first storey and rear single storey extension of a bedroom annex, which would also incorporate a platform lift to boost accessibility.

The part of the building proposed to be demolished is the modern staircase 'link', with sloping flat roof, between the original/main Grade II listed care home and the later flat roofed bedroom extension known as the 'annex'.

St Petroc’s Care Home, prior to its present use, was used as the offices for the now-former South Western Electricity Board during a time where the provision of electric power was nationalised.

If the plans are approved, it would also see the capacity of the care home extend by three additional bedrooms.

The planning agent for the care provider told Cornwall Council: “The proposals consist of the installation of a four stop platform lift which serves the north wing bedrooms, main block accommodation and lift entry, existing annex bedrooms and the new annex bedrooms.

“The modification of the main block layout to facilitate the integration of the platform lift and the replacement of the show steps with a small ramp to improve circulation for wheelchair users.

“Remodelling of the annex ‘link’ footprint and roof profile to facilitate the integration of the new platform lift and fire escape staircase, situated outside the north wing envelope and concealment of the vertical shaft within a new pitched roof form.

“Reconfiguration of the existing accommodation to provide four modern, CQC compliant en-suite bedrooms, including one bariatric room, along with a communal disabled WC and sluice/store.

“First storey extension, vertically aligned with original annex footprint, to provide five new, CQC compliant en-suite bedrooms along with a communal assisted shower facility.

“Formation of a modest single storey extension to the rear, north east façade to create a dedicate day lounge for the nine residents to gather in and socialise under the supervision of care staff.

“Provision of an integrated, in roof photovoltaic arrays to the inner facing pitches of the new pitched roof to generate renewable energy for the home while being concealed from view.

“Recladding of the existing annex external facades to upgrade the thermal performance and weather tightness of the aged structure thereby providing a consistent and unified external appearance to the extended annex.”

Requesting that Cornwall Council approve the plans, they added: “The proposals are discrete, will create no intensification of use and will have no detrimental impact on surrounding buildings, amenity, privacy or daylight.

“The proposals will preserve the ongoing use of St Petroc’s as a care home and help enhance the Listed building.”

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The plans can be viewed using reference PA26/05512.