Acorns Health Care: Noise complaints from Bishop's Waltham

The property, Bishops Farm, has been operating as a care facility since 2020 and is run by Acorns Health Care.

It houses four adults with learning disabilities and is supported by 24-hour care staff.

Hailey East, who lives two doors down from the home, said: "The suggestion that the residents create no more noise than any other household is both narrow-minded and inaccurate.

"By the very nature of the complex health needs, the patients will inevitably generate noise.

"I have lived next to the care home for four years, and I can confirm that this is unavoidable."

Acorns Health Care has now applied for retrospective planning permission to formally change the use of the property and to install a 2.2-metre acoustic fence.

However, residents argue that the fencing will do little to address the noise, especially from the building’s upper floor.

The application has been recommended for approval by planning officers and will go before Winchester City Council’s Planning Committee.

Andrew Phillips, another neighbour, said: "We as neighbours to Bishops Farm strongly object to this retrospective planning application.

"We have had five years of hell from noise disturbances coming from the property from both tenants and carers."

Mr Phillips said the noise has forced his family to keep windows and doors shut and install air conditioning, and that his son no longer feels safe using their garden.

Ben Crook, who lives opposite the care home, called the proposed fencing "visually intrusive" and said it would "fundamentally alter the character of the area" without solving the core problem.

Acorns Health Care has also proposed planting trees along the boundary, but residents argue the solution would take too long to be effective and does not address immediate concerns.

Demelza Petterson, who also objected to the application, said: "Acorn now seeks our trust, suggesting that trees and acoustic fencing will resolve complaints, yet these measures do not address the substantive issues raised."

Anthea Plowman, who moved to the street in 2021, said she was unaware the property was being used as a care home until after moving in.

She described "lengthy outbursts" from residents at all times of day and night, and said the noise was severely impacting her well-being.

A decision on the application is expected at a future meeting of the planning committee.