Changes to historic building and new home for kids with autism -- latest Mansfield plans

The historic building is on the edge of the town centre, at 93-97 West Gate, formerly occupied by Peak Pharmacy and, before then, Manor Pharmacy.

Mansfield District Council has received a planning application for consent to convert the rundown building into nine one-bedroom flats, complete with three pitched-roof dormers as part of an extension.

The applicant is Mani Landa, of Sherwood Properties (Nottingham) Ltd, whose agent is Adam Jones, of the Nottingham-based firm, Peter Philip Developments Ltd, which has compiled a lengthy planning statement containing all the details.

The statement accepts that the building “makes a positive contribution to the character of the West Gate Conservation area” and “occupies a prominent position close to notable heritage assets”.

But equally, it had “remained abandoned for an extended period and was now in need of careful repair and conservation”.

Previous changes had impacted on the building’s architectural character” and because of “a lack of ongoing maintenance”, the interior was showing signs of decay, diminishing its historical features. The first floor, in particular, was in a "poor and deteriorating condition due to neglect”.

The statement also pointed out that despite various retail uses in the past, the property had “consistently failed to achieve high footfall or commercial benefits”.

It had been actively marketed for six months without being sold. Therefore, the best option was to convert it into residential accommodation “to bring the building back into active use”.

The statement promised “a sensible and sustainable form of development, carefully designed to preserve the character and appearance of the building”.

It would not require significant external alterations, although inside, a dilapidated staircase and internal walls would have to be demolished to make way for the renovation.

The home for up to three children, aged four to 18, with autism is proposed for a modern two-storey, detached property that stands at Holly House, 1A Clipstone Drive in Forest Town.

It boasts five first-floor bedrooms and an additional bedroom/office on the ground floor. It is accessed by a private driveway to Newlands Drive and is served by six private parking spaces, as well as a detached double garage.

A change-of-use planning application has been submitted by Mathew Orford, of the Autism East Midlands organisation, and is backed by a statement by Graham Bradford, of a Chesterfield-based company called The Planning And Environment Studio.

The statement says the home “would function in a very similar way to any other dwellings” and no physical changes needed to be made to the building.

The children would be “provided with long-term residence with strong continuity of care and a safe, family-mirroring home-life environment in which they can thrive”. They would attend local schools or receive home schooling.

A team of three carers during daytime and two carers at night would look after the youngsters, who would “have autistic conditions that their biological families are unable to safely cope with”.

The statement stresses there is a “pressing need” for specialist care homes in Mansfield. Indeed there existed no such homes that were autism-specific throughout Nottinghamshire, which was “a serious shortcoming”.

The council’s planning officers are currently considering both projects and have set a deadline date of Wednesday, April 8 for decisions or recommendations.

Other planning applications received by Mansfield Council include these:

3 College Side, Mansfield – removal of two trees and dead wood within conservation area.

The Hermitage nature reserve, Kings Lodge Drive, Mansfield – removal of seven trees covered by preservation order.

9 Bridge Street, Mansfield – two individual house-name letters, one projecting sign and two chalk-board signs.

1 Stockwell Gate, Mansfield – advertisement consent for one internally illuminated fascia sign and one internally illuminated projecting sign.

17 Crow Hill Rise, Mansfield – variation of condition (number of staff) attached to plan for change of use of residential dwelling to small care home for two children.

Land next to 6 Clumber Street, Warsop – two detached dwellings, including demolition of wall/brick pillars.

Tesco Extra, Oak Tree Lane, Jubilee Way South, Mansfield – retrospective application for new click-and-collect parking area and double canopy, a galvanised steel post for support, 82 new bollards and re-location of parent-and-child parking spaces.

54 Berry Hill Lane, Mansfield – dropped kerb.

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/