EXTENSIONS TO HOME

Press, Volume C, Issue 29556, 4 July 1961, Page 14

EXTENSIONS TO HOME

Appeal Board's Decision

Extensions and alterations planned to the kitchen block at the Jubilee Home, and the building of a new nurses' home, have been allowed by the Town and Country Planning Appeal Board over an objection by the Christchurch City Council, The property is to remain zoned as “industrial C,” however, and ultimately the home will probably have to be moved. The board’s decision has just been released. The decision was reserved after the hearing of the appeal on May

The home is operated by the North Canterbury Hospital Board, but the respondent in the appeal was the Ministry of- Works. It was the ministry’s requirement that the land occupied by the home should be “designated a reserve for Government (old people's home) purposes and coloured yellow in the district scheme” which was the subject of the council’s appeal.

In its judgment, the appeal board, consisting of Messrs F. F. Reid. S.M. (chairman). C. H. Taylor, and G. Tremaine, said it considered that the industrial zoning which surrounded the property was appropriate. The situation was by no means ideal for an old people's home, but the home had been there for more than 70 years and was performing an important public service. To replace it would cost more than £250.000. which, in view of the hospital board’s already extensive building programme. meant that replacement would probably not be feasible for some years. The buildings were substantial. The extensions proposed were not intended to increase the bed capacity, but to improve existing facilities. There was little industrial development so far in the immediate neighbourhood, and it would be some time before much could be expected.

On balance, the public interest would best be served by leaving the home where it was. at least until the council's district scheme came up for review Ultimately, the home should be shifted to a more suitable site and the land made available for industrial development. The land was to remain zoned as industrial, but the Department of Health was permitted to authorise a new nurses’ home and alterations and additions to the kitchen block in general conformity with plans it had already submitted to the council.