AFTER plans were approved, a new 82-bedroom care home is set to be built behind a popular Essex garden centre. 

Morar Living has been given the green light for a specialist dementia and nursing care home on land used by Summerhill Garden Centre just off the A127. 

The site is off Pipps Hill Road in North Billericay, and was previously used by the garden centre to grow produce for sale at the business. 

The care home building will be U-shaped, with a central entrance and communal space at the centre of the development. An associated office and storage building will also be built on the property.

The plans also include several gardens and outdoor areas, including a main garden, dementia garden, woodland garden, and orchard. They also include a café, a hair salon, and a cinema.

The care home is expected to have 40 parking spaces, and the office will have 20 more. 

The plans were agreed in November 2022 following an appeal, the details of the plan have now been agreed by Basildon Council.

The plans state: "This proposal makes a significant contribution towards addressing the housing needs for older people. The outline application and the very special circumstances case previously submitted clearly indicate the need for care homes in Basildon. 

"This application provides high-quality living spaces, contributing significantly to the housing needs of older people. This proposal takes into account various measures needed to ensure the safety of the future residents. 

"The latest pandemic highlights the difficulties faced when trying to protect older people within care homes. This is still apparent with common viruses in care homes due to the residents' age and health, making them vulnerable. The care home can be locked down into four separate areas, all with the necessary staffing and amenities."