British town fears it is becoming 'old people's home' amid plans for EIGHTH care home

Locals in a Norfolk town are fearing the area is becoming an "old people's home" amid ongoing plans for its eighth care home.

Developers are hoping to transform a disused three-storey factory into a 66-bed home for pensioners along Park Road, in Diss.

Diss Town Council has already railed against the plans, and claimed the move would "stifle economic progress".

South Norfolk Council is currently receiving hordes of furious objections, with one critic pointing out the town "already accommodates several elderly care facilities".

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"A development of this scale risks turning the town into an ageing community, potentially discouraging younger people and families from settling here," the objection warned.

Meanwhile, others raised concerns about the construction possibly deterring the area's youngsters, driving down reasons to "stay and thrive" in the Norfolk town.

Tory councillor Graham Minshull said there were already issues with parking in the area, which risks being exacerbated by turning the old factory into a care home.

"Is there a demand in the town? I am not convinced," Mr Minshull said.

But those in favour of rebuilding the old feather factory, which fell into liquidation four years ago, argued that accommodation must be constructed to address life expectancies getting longer.

The Norfolk market town has a population nearing 10,000 - almost a quarter of which are aged 65 and above.

Across South Norfolk as a whole, the number of those above the age bracket jumped by 30 per cent between 2011 and 2021, census data showed.

LNT Care Developments has promised residents a "state-of-the-art, purpose-built care home", showing off illustrations of the lush-looking home.

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