Details of 'fully electric’ new Maidenhead care home after successful appeal

More details have been revealed about a ‘fully electric’ new care home in Westmorland Road after developers successfully appealed against a decision to refuse plans for the site.

In December, Boutique Care Homes was given the go-ahead for Townsend Chase, a 58-bed development, which it says will ‘honour a 130-year family legacy’.

The three-storey care home on this 4,000sqm site will replace existing buildings at Lawnfield House and provide residential care, dementia support and short stays.

The development is named after the Townsend family, who owned the site for more than a century.

Philip Limbrach Townsend acquired the Victorian villa around 1910, and it remained in family ownership until 2022. He is buried nearby at All Saints Cemetery.

Developers say the scheme has been designed to reflect the character of the area while delivering modern care facilities.

Plans include ensuite bedrooms, lounges, private dining rooms, a piano bar and bistro, as well as hobby spaces for activities such as arts, crafts and baking.

The home will also feature sensory rooms, a beauty salon and landscaped gardens, including a preserved woodland area with around 200 mature trees.

Some ground-floor specialist dementia bedrooms will have direct access to patios or terraces.

The project will also mark a first for the company as its first fully electric care home, with no gas usage, alongside landscaping designed to support biodiversity.

Ameet Kotecha, founder and managing director, said the aim is to combine high-quality care with respect for the site’s history.

“When we learned about the Townsend family’s story and their dedication to this property for over a century, we knew we had to honour that legacy,” he said.

“Our vision is to create a care home that not only offers exceptional care but also celebrates the heritage and character of this special place.”

The proposal had previously been refused by the Royal Borough, despite officer recommendations for approval.

Concerns raised by councillors included parking provision, traffic levels and whether there was sufficient local demand for additional care home spaces.

Cabinet member for adult services, Catherine del Campo, argued the borough already had an oversupply of nursing bed spaces to meet the 2035 need and warned additional provision could place future financial pressure on the council.

However, when the developer appealed, the council confirmed it would no longer defend its reasons for refusal.

The appeal proceeded due to third-party objections, with planning inspector P Burley ultimately granting permission, subject to conditions.

These include measures to protect highway safety, such as maintaining turning space on site and restrictions on parking arrangements.

Development director Tom Duck said the scheme reflects the company’s focus on both care and environmental responsibility.

“As our first fully electric home, we’re leading the way in sustainable care while bringing our Life Enrichment Programme to Maidenhead families,” he said.

The development is expected to create jobs across care, hospitality and management roles, with completion anticipated by summer 2028.