Decision to be made on controversial flats

A decision on a controversial plan to demolish a number of empty homes and build more than 50 retirement flats in Pershore will be made by councillors next week.

Social housing provider Rooftop Housing wants to demolish social housing in Almonry Close in Pershore and build 54 new one-and-two-bedroom flats for the over 55s.

Planning officers at Wychavon District Council have recommended the plan is approved when its planning committee meets next Thursday despite some concerns about the height of the proposed three-storey building.

A total of 76 objections were made against the plan during public consultation with Pershore Civic Society and Pershore Town Council criticising the “out of character” design and lack of parking.

As many as 34 homes in the existing Almonry Close complex would be demolished to make way for the new housing and number of communal spaces would also be built as well as a ‘village hall’ type building.

The complex – which has no lifts, narrow corridors and very little communal space – was deemed unfit for purpose in 2018 and has remained empty since.

The plans for the land near to Pershore Abbey would include a mix of rent and shared ownership flats but just 18 car parking spaces.

Rooftop said it had appointed a new team to take a “fresh look” at the plans after its original 63 apartment scheme was withdrawn in 2019.

The social housing provider said it has been working with Wychavon District Council and Historic England on its proposals.

“The new approach to the site was welcomed and the prospect of an alternative approach, quite radically different to the previous application, received positively,” said Rooftop in its planning application. “This provided Rooftop Housing with the comfort needed to commit to the redevelopment of the site with this fresh approach.”

Earlier plans by Rooftop for the site proved controversial and attracted a number of objections.

Pershore Civic Society objected to the first application saying the plans would “dwarf neighbouring buildings.”

“The proposals are for an unusually high and intensive use of the site – doubling the plot density from 30 to almost 60 homes extending to the boundaries of the site, a three-storey development which will dwarf neighbouring buildings in Newlands including the listed Almonry itself,” the society said.