A former hospital in west Reading could be demolished, with plans to build a 55-bed care home in its place.

Plans have been submitted to demolish the vacant Dellwood Community Hospital at 22 Liebenrood Road and turn it into a three-storey care home for the elderly.

Applicant Montpelier Estates has submitted the plans to Reading Borough Council (RBC).

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Conservation Area Advisory (CAAC) committee has objected to the proposal, calling it an “over-intensification of the site”.

The house is not listed or in a conservation area but Reading CAAC said it should be considered a non-designated heritage asset and it would prefer a refurbishment and possible extension of the existing building rather than demolition and rebuild.

Additionally, Evelyn Williams, chair of the Reading CAAC, said the design “does not respect the heritage” of the Grade II listed Prospect Park, which is opposite the site.

Dellwood was the first house to be built on Liebenrood Road in the 1890s.

Although extensions have been added over the last century, the presence of the original building can still be clearly discerned, Ms Williams said.

She added: “The proposed building will dominate the plot because of its breadth, depth and height taking up almost every inch of available space with very little room for gardens and green space or parking.”

Three residents have also raised concerns about the plans, although only one has outright objected to it.

Reading Chronicle: The former Dellwood Community Hospital. Google maps.The former Dellwood Community Hospital. Google maps.

The resident objecting criticised the number of parking places, saying the 18 planned parking spaces “seems grossly underestimating” for a 55-bed care home with staff and visitors.

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They said current parking facilities at Prospect Park are inadequate and this will exacerbate the issues.

Another neighbour expressed support for the use of the site but also raised concerns about the parking plans.

The site currently has 32 car spaces, according to the application, with this to be reduced to 18 under the plans.

While a third resident said traffic calming measures would be needed on the road as “the traffic on this road is extremely fast and noisy from early morning to very late evening”.