Casa di Lusso, a care home located at the northern end of Bower Lane in Bridgwater, may soon increase its capacity following a new planning application. Situated close to the town’s community hospital and Polden Bower special needs school, the facility currently offers 88 en-suite bedrooms, including 24 assisted living units (ALUs) for residents requiring minimal daily support.
Operated by Notaro Homes Ltd., the care home—built in 2016—is seeking approval to transform existing ALUs into additional standard bedrooms. Each ALU comprises a self-sufficient living space with a bedroom, wet room, and kitchenette. Because each unit has roughly the same footprint as two regular bedrooms, the operator plans to subdivide 20 of the ALUs, converting them directly into 40 standard bedrooms. The remaining units will be reconfigured into two launchpads and two one-bedroom apartments with assisted bathrooms. This reconfiguration will raise the total number of bedrooms to 106.
The expansion will also modify sections of the second floor to add communal areas, assisted bathing facilities, and operational spaces. Aside from adding seven cycle parking spaces, no external changes to the building are proposed. Gillings Planning, representing Notaro Homes, emphasized the community benefits, stating the expansion addresses local demand for care home beds and fits well within the accessible town centre location.
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The project is expected to create seven new full-time jobs, contributing to local employment opportunities. The expansion aligns in timing with Bridgwater’s upcoming NHS diagnostic centre, a £17.8 million development set to be built behind the existing hospital near the M5 motorway. The new diagnostic facility will house two CT scanners, two MRI scanners, and two ultrasound rooms, modeled after the successful Taunton centre opened in 2021.
David Craig, programme director, highlighted the significance of the NHS project: “This development is fantastic news for people in Bridgwater and will improve access to vital healthcare scans, as well as help us to reduce our waiting times. It supports the NHS Ten Year Plan’s goal to shift care services closer to local communities.” The diagnostic centre aims for a summer 2026 opening, pending planning approval.
Somerset Council is expected to make decisions regarding both the care home expansion and the diagnostic centre proposal before Christmas, marking a significant step forward in enhancing Bridgwater’s healthcare and residential care infrastructure.