The demolition of one care home for adults with learning disabilities and the construction of a replacement were simultaneously rubber-stamped this week by Richmond Council’s planning committee.

Silver Birches, in Marchmont Road, in Richmond, is set to be knocked down, to make way for nine new homes; four terrace houses and five mews houses.

The 13 Silver Birches residents will be moved to a new home five miles away, as the Avenue Centre, in Normansfield Avenue, Hampton Wick was also given the go-ahead at the planning meeting on Wednesday evening.

Two additional places for adults with learning disabilities will be provided by the Avenue Centre, although this only represents 25 per cent of the proposal, the rest of which will be affordable housing.

The Avenue Centre will include the care home, comprised of two five-bed dwellings, and independent living housing block, and 15 affordable housing units, two of which will be fully wheelchair-accessible.

There will also be car parking provision and a space for an adapted vehicle for residents.

The application was submitted by Diane Manning, on behalf of Richmond Council, who said residents of Silver Birches and their families were consulted throughout the process.

Ms Manning said: “We looked at new plans to update Silver Birches, but it was decided we should instead build a new care home for everyone who lives there, in exchange for the surrender of the lease.

“This is supported by a consultation with families of the residents of Silver Birches.

“Each point raised by residents and their families has influenced the designs you see here.”

The Avenue Centre will be built on the site of the old Avenue Day Centre, which catered for visitors with learning difficulties.

It closed in 2007 due to declining use, and was demolished after a subsequent spate of vandalism, leaving only the concrete floor slab, tarmac and broken ground.

Permission had been granted in 2006 to erect a new centre for people with learning disabilities on the site, as well as a doctors’ surgery, before it was withdrawn.

Vicky Guiton, who lives next door to Silver Birches, said the presence of the care home in her community would be ‘very much missed’.

Ms Guiton said: “I feel very sad to be losing Silver Birches.

“I know the building was not suitable any more – and I know the residents will be much better off.

“But it was part of the community; I used to fundraise for the home. I will be sad to see it go.”

Other residents’ concerns about the new housing development on the Silver Birches site were allayed as councillors added to the application the requirements that the surrounding wall must be at least 1.8 metres tall, and that ground floor windows will be frosted.

Both applications were granted unanimously by the planning committee, although the demolition of Silver Birches can only happen once the Avenue Centre has been completed.