In the space of just two days, two care homes in England have found themselves at the center of public scrutiny—one for failing to meet regulatory standards, and the other for a proposed expansion that was ultimately rejected by local authorities after a groundswell of community opposition. Both stories, which unfolded in Essex and Cornwall respectively, shed light on the complex pressures facing the country’s care sector as it grapples with aging infrastructure, rising demand, and the expectations of residents, families, and regulators alike.
On September 23, 2025, the BBC reported that the Cottage Residential Care Home in Brightlingsea, Essex, had been rated “inadequate” by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the national health watchdog. The CQC’s inspectors cited a “significant lack of oversight and management of governance systems,” pointing to incidents that raised serious questions about the home’s ability to keep its residents safe. In one case, a resident fractured their hip in September 2022, but the incident was not reported to either the safeguarding authorities or the CQC itself. In another, a resident fell and hit their head, sustaining a cut, but there was no record of medical advice being sought and, again, no report was made to the relevant authorities.
The CQC’s report concluded that the home’s managers “did not demonstrate the necessary skills, knowledge, or experience to ensure the safety and well-being of people using the service.” Yet, the story is not as black-and-white as it might seem. According to the BBC, some residents expressed satisfaction with their living arrangements. Bedrooms were personalized, and staff were noted for knowing residents well. One resident told inspectors they liked living at the home—a small but telling sign that the picture on the ground can be more nuanced than a regulatory rating might suggest.
Andrew Bellhouse, one of the proprietors of Cottage Residential Care Home, voiced his frustration with the findings and the shadow they cast over the home’s reputation. “We are not a big company; we are a real, loving, independent care home with lovely staff who have been working for us for more than 10-20 years and longer,” Bellhouse said. He emphasized that some residents had been under the home’s care for more than 35 years—a testament, he argued, to the enduring relationships and trust that had been built up over decades. Bellhouse acknowledged that the most recent inspection took place during a period of significant change for the home. “Our previous inspections have all been good. This one occurred during a period of big change for us.”
Part of that change involves a major relocation effort. The home is currently housed in a Georgian Grade II listed building—an architectural gem, perhaps, but far from ideal when it comes to accessibility and practicality for modern care needs. Bellhouse explained that the home is in the process of moving to a more accessible location and is working closely with “many professionals” to develop “more accurate person-centred care.”
While Cottage Residential Care Home wrestles with regulatory demands and the logistics of relocation, another care home story was unfolding in Cornwall, with a decidedly different outcome but similar themes of community, regulation, and the challenges of meeting growing demand.
On September 22, 2025, Cornwall Council’s planning committee rejected plans for a new 64-bedroom care home at Hendra Court in Par after receiving more than 200 objections from local residents, as reported by the Local Democracy Reporting Service. The proposal, put forward by Cornwallis Care Services, involved demolishing part of an existing Grade II-listed, 50-bed care home and constructing a larger facility, with the old building repurposed for staff offices and accommodation.
The rationale behind the expansion was clear: the region faces a shortfall of 127 care beds, and the planning department argued that the new development would “provide a significant contribution towards much needed care provision.” Chartered town planner Chloe Pitt, representing the applicant, told the committee there was an “undeniable” need for the facility. She noted that the design had been adjusted in response to feedback, with the maximum height capped at 12.9 meters—“significantly lower” than the 30 meters some objectors had claimed. Privacy concerns, Pitt said, had been addressed through obscure glazing, angled windows, and landscaping buffers.
But for many local residents, these changes did not go far enough. Karen Clarke, speaking on behalf of her neighbors, argued that the new building—at nearly 13 meters tall, or the equivalent of a four-story block of flats—would be “overbearing” and out of character with the area. The prospect of such a “colossal” structure looming over existing homes was a step too far for many. Reform UK councillor Tony Wilson, who represents Fowey, Tywardreath, and Par, echoed these concerns, describing the proposal as a “massive monolithic structure” that would have “a huge impact on neighbours” while only adding 14 extra bedrooms.
Liberal Democrat councillor Joanna Kenny, representing Newquay Central and Pentire, added that the development would be particularly overbearing for homes to the east of the site. Steven Webb, another Liberal Democrat councillor from Truro Morsek and Trevhaverne, pointed out that the current care home and the proposed new building “just don’t fit next to each other” and would be out of character with the neighborhood. Ultimately, the planning committee sided with the objectors, and the plans were turned down.
The juxtaposition of these two stories reveals a sector at a crossroads. On the one hand, there is an urgent need to expand and modernize care provision to meet the needs of an aging population. On the other, there are real concerns—about regulatory oversight, about the impact of large developments on existing communities, and about the preservation of character and quality of life for both residents and neighbors.
For care home operators like Andrew Bellhouse, the challenge is to balance the demands of regulators, the needs of residents, and the realities of running a small, independent business. For local authorities and developers in places like Par, the task is to find ways to provide the care beds that are so desperately needed while respecting the wishes of the communities they serve. It’s a delicate balancing act, and as these recent events show, there are no easy answers—just the ongoing work of listening, adapting, and striving to do better for some of society’s most vulnerable members.
