Disused care home in Mansfield could be converted to help housing shortage
A disused former care home in Mansfield could be saved from demolition and used to help address the town’s housing shortage.
For a planning application has been submitted to Mansfield District Council to convert what was Westfield Care Home, on Devon Drive, off the A617 Westfield Lane, into 12 "well-designed” dwellings.
The large two-storey building housed the 44-bedroom care home, which was rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after its last inspection in 2018.
But it closed some time ago after being deemed “no longer fit for purpose”, with the building reportedly needing significant repairs and renovation.
Now the proposal for a conversion and change of use has gone in for a development that would comprise one one-bedroom property, one two-bed, seven three-bed and three four-bed.
The identity of the applicant is unclear and named only as Singh in planning papers. But their agent is the Ruddington-based company, Dyad Design Ltd, which has outlined details of the development in a statement sent to the council.
It says the scheme would “deliver a sustainable re-use of an existing building, avoiding demolition and introducing new homes”.
"The property is surplus to care requirements, while Mansfield faces an acute housing need,” the statement goes on.
“The building sits within a residential area, but has been vacant for some time, leading to a lack of activity and reduced security for neighbours.
"The site is surrounded by established housing, with no on-street parking restrictions and good links to local amenities and public transport.”
The plan also features 22 on-site parking spaces and 15 secure cycle-storage spots, plus screened wheelie-bin storage.
Minor external alterations would include the removal of a conservatory, the insertion of new windows, the resurfacing of a grassed area and landscaping, including new trees and hedges.
In conclusion, Dyad says: “By prioritising conversion over demolition, the development would strengthen the quality and safety of the local neighbourhood.”
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the proposal and have set a deadline date of Wednesday, March 4 for 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/