Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a site with the benefit of full planning consent in the market town of Midsomer Norton to LNT Care Developments.

Full planning permission was granted in February 2019 for the construction of a 66-bedroom care home on the circa 1.3-acre site. The scheme sits within a wider residential development to the east of Silver Street which is already the site of the new primary school.

The site, which was previously owned by Strategic Land Partnerships, has now been purchased by LNT Care Developments, the largest provider of carbon-zero, affordable, and high-quality care homes in the UK.

Keeley Sharp, Strategic Land Director at LNT Group, comments, "LNT Care Developments is delighted to have acquired this scheme in Midsomer Norton, adding to an established and emerging pipeline of sites across the South West and in line with our strategy to continue to address the shortfall in quality care provision across the UK. With planning permission already secured for a 66-bedroom care home, LNT construction has commenced works on site, and we look forward to the opening in late Autumn 2024."

Simon Steele-Perkins of Strategic Land Partnership, comments, "I am delighted to have reached this important milestone. This is a good example of how a vision from 12 years ago can be turned into reality by being patient, doing the 'right thing', and meaningfully engaging with all parties over a very long period of time. There was a desperate shortage of school spaces but no site for a new school. There had been several failed attempts at delivering a care home for the town, and the local authorities had struggled over the years with the delivery of enough housing and affordable housing. To achieve all of this would not have been possible without superb planning and technical support led by Nicola Lovell now at Avison Young and an outstanding legal team led by Elizabeth Newson at Michelmores."

Sara Hartill, Associate Director – Healthcare Development at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments, "A care home development site in this location is well suited to the needs of future residents and will integrate well into the town as a vital community asset where there was a demonstrable need for a new, purpose-built care home. The scheme sits within an attractive wider development that will offer much-needed provision for generations to come. We look forward to seeing the finished product."

The site was sold for an undisclosed price.