Unwanted Thurmaston bedsits that nobody wanted to live in now set …
A sheltered housing complex where unwanted bedsits stood empty for more than a decade is set to be replaced with new bungalows designed to protect people with dementia. Charnwood Borough Council[1] has just lodged a planning[2] application for the scheme, which, if approved, will replace the St Michael’s Court housing complex on Melton Road in Thurmaston, which is now vacant.
The plans show there will be nine bungalows, each with one bedroom, a lounge/dining room, kitchen and a shower room. The bungalows will have a dementia-friendly design, including large windows to provide natural light and internal layouts that allow the shower room to be seen from the living area.
Thurmaston’s Parochial Church Council (PCC) expressed concerns about access to the development at a public consultation and also in writing to the council. Although the PCC welcomed the development for providing ‘much-needed social housing’, its members were concerned about the ‘clearly inadequate parking on Melton Road’, which could be reduced by the new access to the scheme via that road.
The PPC’s letter read: “We are concerned that the proposed new vehicular access to the development will be detrimental, reducing quite significantly the number of on-street parking spaces available in an area where demand routinely exceeds supply.”
However, documents submitted on behalf of the council by agent Pelham Architects, read: “Our submission includes detailed transport surveys and plans for the scheme. We believe the scheme meets the council’s criteria for a positive determination.
"Melton Road already contains parking constraints for the busier 8am – 6pm Monday to Saturday time periods. The PCC suggested an alternative layout turning the scheme’s back to Melton Road. We do not think this is a suitable solution.”
A council spokesperson said: “The proposed bungalows have been designed for people with mobility issues. St Michael’s Court was built around 1970 and no longer meets the needs of older tenants. The complex comprises mainly of bedsits with shared bathrooms which are difficult to let.
"The ageing sheltered accommodation also has long corridors which are difficult for people with mobility issues. If the application is approved, work could start in early 2024, with the aim of the bungalows being available in the winter of 2024/25.”
Planning documents reveal early ideas for replacement council housing on the site included a block with larger flats than those currently contained in the St Michael’s complex, but at three storeys it would have blocked views of the nearby St Michael’s and All Angels Church.
In December, the Leicester Mercury revealed the council had properties that had stood empty for more than 20 years[4]. A council spokesperson revealed most of these ‘hard to let’ properties were bedsits which no longer met council tenants needs or expectations. A number of St Michael’s Court properties were included on the list of empty properties, with four bedsits having been without a tenant for more than a decade.
At a meeting last week where councillors discussed funding for housing repairs, Director of Housing and Wellbeing Peter Oliver revealed 47 bedsits in the borough’s 13 blocks of sheltered accommodation needed major repair work but weren’t a priority to be fixed as people don’t want to live in them.
He said the bedsits in them are very small, adding: “The bathroom is a shared bathroom with someone down the corridor. The kitchens are very small and you’d struggle to walk two steps in. We’ve not progressed with works in some of the ones that require further major works because at present we can’t actually let the properties that are in reasonable condition.”
Application documents for the bungalows can be seen on the council’s planning portal, and comments and objections about the scheme can be made until Wednesday 13 September.
References
- ^ Charnwood Borough Council (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ planning (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ Read the latest Leicestershire planning stories (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)
- ^ stood empty for more than 20 years (www.leicestermercury.co.uk)