A care home for adults with serious mental health illnesses is seeking permission to expand, as experts warn the county faces an urgent shortage in facilities.
Kemps Place, Norwich, currently supports 30 people, and has submitted a new application to add six new rooms to the site.
Norfolk County Council cited an “urgent need” for this type of service, pointing to a wave of mental health service closures across the county, which has left a hole in local provision.
Though not an NHS facility, the service was rated ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission in May 2023, and Adult Social Services raised no concerns over the operator’s track record.
The expansion is expected to create three additional full-time jobs, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Despite the warnings from the council, neighbours have objected to the scheme over concerns about potential noise and anti-social behaviour which could stem from an expansion.
However, planning officers have recommended the application for approval, concluding that the social and health benefits of the scheme outweigh local concerns.
Councillors are expected to decide at a planning committee meeting on Thursday.
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