Shropshire Star

Concerns over Wem apartment block

Concerns have been raised about the height of new housing for the elderly which is currently being built in a town.

Published

Peggy Carson, of Station Road in Wem, claims the new apartment block is "out of proportion" with the local area.

The apartment block is being built as part of a scheme to create new housing for the elderly on the site of the former Westlands Care Home.

But Shropshire Council said it is "satisfied" that development is being carried out in accordance with the approved planning application.

Mrs Carson said: "I am very concerned about the height of the apartment block. It is out of proportion with other houses in the area and is dwarfing the other houses around it.

"It is meant to be a two-storey block, but the height of the roof makes it look more like a four-storey block."

But Philip Mullineux, Shropshire Council’s principal planner, said: “Shropshire Council officers have reviewed the plans, a visit to the site has taken place and, as a consequence, officers are satisfied that development on site is being carried out in accordance with the approved plans.”

Work on converting the former care home into new homes for the elderly is due to be completed by next year.

Meres and Mosses Housing Association was granted planning permission last year to pull down the care home and build 32 new homes in its place.

The plans, originally revealed at a previous consultation event, suggested building 52 homes.

But after public engagement the number was reduced to 32 with a communal area and 25 car parking spaces.

Westlands Care Home, which was run by Coverage Care Services, closed in March 2015 after managers revealed it had been losing £25,000 a year for the last five years.