A FORTY bedroom care home is to replace the recently demolished 'Bowfell House' in Urmston.

An application to build a two-storey care home on the site, which sits at the junction of Bowfell Road, Flixton Road and Brook Road, was given the green light at the latest Trafford Council planning meeting.

The residential and dementia care home has been designed in a ‘V’ shape, following the triangular shape of the site.

The Knoll Care Partnership, who run other homes in Urmston and Flixton, will be providing care for the elderly residents.

The application won support from planning committee members and the decision to pass was made within minutes of opening the debate.

Cllr Rob Chilton congratulated the applicant, Urmston-based James Callaghan Sons and Co, on the sympathetic design.

“They have clearly take the heritage aspect seriously,” he added. “It is important to the people of Trafford.”

Cllr Vivienne Ward echoed this sentiment.

“They really utilise the plot,” she said. “The garden is in a lovely position and I am really looking forward to it starting.

“We have a local firm and I know they will do justice to the area.”

The site was previously occupied by 'Bowfell House', also known as ‘Flixton old library’.

The historic library building served the community for many years but has lay vacant since 2013. It was demolished last year, leaving a clear site.

Andrew Callaghan, from James Callaghan Sons and Co, said: “As a local family owned and run business, we were very keen to produce a scheme that would be befitting of the prominent location and enhance the overall street scene.

“In the design brief to our architects, DWA, we requested the new building should be sympathetic to the surrounding architecture whilst simultaneously being of its time. We hope the finished design has achieved this, whilst providing a care home that will offer an attractive place to live and work and be calmly appropriate to its prominent position in the town.”

The retention of the glacial boulder and entrance plaque, which were notable features when the old library was still standing, was also praised by committee members.

Andrew added: “The plans include a sensory garden which has been designed around the existing glacial boulder. We have managed to retain the ‘Atlas’ relief which was formerly located above the entrance to the old library.

“This will be re-sited either in the sensory garden or in the reception to the new home. We will also be using the locally established name of 'Bowfell' for the new home. We hope these measures give a little local history and context to the development.”