Land in Mansfield earmarked for assisted-living flats and bungalows
New bungalows and apartments for people with disabilities or mental health needs have been earmarked for a vacant piece of land in Mansfield.
The irregular-shaped land, spanning 0.766 acres (or 0.31 hectares), sits on Botany Avenue between The Towers events venue to the south and a commercial car business to the north.
Mansfield District Council has received a new planning application to re-develop the site, which currently contains a number of shipping containers and is used for the storage of building materials.
The application has been submitted by Shaun Larvin, a director of the Yorkshire-based company, Urban Wave, which specialises in providing “high-quality, purpose-built accommodation for adults with diverse and complex needs”.
This proposal comprises a contemporary, three-storey building containing 12 self-contained, one-bedroom apartments, as well as six one-bedroom bungalows.
All would be for people who require supported housing or assisted living. Typically, they are older adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and/or mental health issues who need help with daily tasks.
They would have access to 24-hour, on-site support with personal care, meals and medication, provided by a professional team of 35 staff, ten of whom would be full-time.
Assisted living is viewed as the middle ground between living independently at home and being in a residential care home full-time.
Urban Wave’s agent for the scheme is the Alfreton-based Stone Planning Services, which has sent a statement to the council.
It says: “The scheme is designed to promote independent living within a safe and supportive environment, enabling residents to integrate into the local community while receiving the care they require.
"The development would be leased to, and managed by, a specialist registered housing association. Residents would benefit from a tailored support package, with 24-hour care delivered by a provider registered with the Care Quality Commission.
"The proposal meets an identified need for specialist supported housing, delivering significant community benefits.
"It would generate local employment opportunities and contribute to the sustainability of the local economy.”
Under the plans, each of the bungalows would have its own individual garden, while the flats would benefit from a community garden.
A parking area for 13 vehicles, plus landscaping, drainage and access via a private drive off Botany Avenue, would complete the project.
This planning application is not to be confused with a separate one for Botany Avenue, lodged in 2024, for 12 assisted-living apartments, six assisted-living bungalows and 11 standard homes, ranging from two-bedroom to four-bedroom.
Granted permission by the council earlier this year, that project encompassed a larger site, spanning 1.9 acres, which was formerly the car park for the Mansfield Hosiery Mills factory and also housed the Electricity Board workshops and social club. In more recent times, the land has been used for car boot sales and motorcycle rider training.
This fresh proposal relates solely to the assisted-living accommodation and just the front area of the whole, larger site.
The council’s planning officers are currently considering the plan and hope to make a decision or recommendation by their deadline date of Monday, August 17.
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/