Apartments for vulnerable people earmarked for old allotments site in Mansfield

Supported living helps vulnerable people with learning disabilities, autism or mental-health conditions to live independently in their own places.

It comes with flexible and tailored support from professional staff with things such as shopping, cooking, managing money, personal care and getting out and about.

Nottinghamshire County Council has made it clear that there is “a substantial number of people in the Mansfield area” waiting for this type of accommodation.

So it was pleased to hear that the old Blake Crescent allotments, off Ravensdale Road, has been earmarked for 12 one-bedroom supported-living apartments.

Mansfield District Council has received a planning application on behalf of the landowners, who are understood to be the trustees of the allotment gardens site, which spans 0.741 acres.

The site sits in an established residential area but is no longer in use and currently comprises a large area of grassland, timber sheds and hard-standing used for parking and storage.

The plan is for a two-storey L-shaped building containing the flats, with communal areas and staff facilities, all within a ten-minute walk of shops and bus stops on Sherwood Hall Road.

A total of 18 parking spaces would be created, and access would be via an upgraded, existing private track off Ravensdale Road, close to Alcock Avenue.

A detailed planning statement, supporting the application, has been compiled by the agents for the project, Cre8 Land and Planning Ltd, of Macclesfield, Cheshire.

The statement reveals that the applicant sought pre-application advice from the council, which “considered that the principle of development was acceptable”.

However, a “mixed response” greeted a public consultation held among nearby residents during August and September when leaflets were sent out to more than 50 households, inviting them to comment via email or an online questionnaire.

Of 15 responses received, four strongly supported the apartments, three supported them but with concerns, while eight opposed the proposal.

The statement says principal concerns raised by objectors related to traffic and congestion, parking issues, wildlife, privacy, community safety and the suitability of the site.

The applicant had since tried to allay fears by pointing out the amount of traffic would be similar to the site’s previous use as allotments and was “not expected to have a detrimental impact on congestion or road safety”. Parking for nearby residents would also not be affected.

Many residents said the site and surrounding gardens were used “by a range of wildlife, including foxes, hedgehogs, frogs, toads, bats and a variety of birds and insects”.

But the applicant promised to “retain most of the existing habitats and create new ones, with enhanced planting”.

The statement also stressed there was “no evidence that providing accommodation for vulnerable adults would give rise to an unacceptable increase in crime or anti-social behaviour”. Instead they “would live as part of the wider community”.

The council’s planning officers are currently considering the scheme and have set a deadline date of Wednesday, January 27 to make a decision or recommendation.

THE details of many planning applications can be found in public notices advertised by local and regional newspapers. To catch up on all the latest public notices, go to https://publicnoticeportal.uk/