New plan for 44 retirement flats at former Ludlow council HQ

A previous proposal by Purcell, working with Churchill Retirement Living, for a block of one and two-bedroom apartments on the site of the former Stone House offices, was withdrawn.

The redrawn plan for the site off Corve Street near the town centre for 44 flats for the elderly includes 24 parking spaces have been submitted to Shropshire Council.

The existing "stable block" building, which was previously going be demolished along with the more modern office buildings, will also now be retained.

Original plans for 28 homes were met with a raft of objections from residents and Ludlow Town Council, with concerns raised about the number of houses, poor access for emergency vehicles and parking problems on neighbouring streets.

A statement by Planning Issues architects, on behalf of Churchill, said the new proposal had "evolved" through engagement with Shropshire Council planners and the public.

The report says: "The proposed development will provide 44 units of private sheltered accommodation for the elderly, including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping. It will also provide four one-bed affordable flats, adjacent to the site entrance."

The report also says the stable block's "historic element" will be kept with the main apartment block "respecting the character of the conservation area".

Developers behind new plans to build retirement flats at town's former Shropshire Council base say the scheme has "evolved.

A previous proposal, working with Churchill Retirement Living, for a block of one and two-bedroom apartments on the site of Ludlow's former Stone House offices, was withdrawn.

The redrawn plan for the site off Corve Street near the town centre for flats for the elderly includes 24 parking spaces.

The existing "stable block" building, which was previously to be demolished along with the more modern office buildings, will now be retained, it has been revealed.

Previous plans for the site were for 28 homes, but they were met with a raft of objections from residents and Ludlow Town Council, saying there were too many houses for the space, there would be poor access for emergency vehicles and parking problems on neighbouring streets would be exacerbated.

Objections also focussed on the "historical pastiche" design of the houses which the town council thought was not in keeping with the area.

A statement by Planning Issues architects, on behalf of Churchill, says the new proposal has "evolved" by engaging with the Shropshire Council planners and the public.

It says: "The proposed development will provide 44 units of private sheltered accommodation for the elderly, including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping.

"It will also provide four one-bed affordable flats, adjacent to the site entrance. The latter includes the redevelopment if the stable block."

The "historic element" of the stable block building will be kept but the modern additions removed, the report says.

Meanwhile, it says, the main apartment block is designed "to provide visual interest and to respect the character and appearance of the conservation area.

"The development will include a high quality landscaped amenity space which envelopes the building and will be supplemented by a large enclosed area to the rear.

"In addition, planting will be provided along the Park Road and Garland Road frontages in order to help soften the development. The amenity areas on site will be maintained in perpetuity by the management company."

It concludes: "The proposal offers the opportunity to add a high quality form of development to the site that is in a prominent location outside the town centre and will also help to regenerate the immediate area, creating a far more appropriately considered solution and structure to this prominent position."

No comments have yet been made on the proposal.