The site of an “unsightly” former care home on Blackburn’s Shadsworth estate is now set to be redeveloped with 25 new homes for affordable rent. Together Housing Association has been given planning permission for the scheme by Blackburn with Darwen Council.
The new properties will be on the site of the demolished Gleneagles Court, Shetland Close. The scheme is part of the social housing provider’s £20million plans to ‘refresh’ the 1950s estate.
Council officers described the land as “partly vacant” with an area of open space at Shadsworth Road/Skye Crescent A156 covering the eastern part. The care home on the site was demolished last year.
A report by planning officer Christian Barton said: “This application involves the erection of 25 dwellings with associated garden and parking areas. The proposed dwellings would be arranged in four blocks, and they would comprise of eight one-bedroom apartments, 10 two-bedroom apartments, four three-bedroom dwellings and three four-bedroom dwellings.
“The proposed dwellings would be 100 per cent affordable. They would be built and managed by Together Housing Association.
“A variation of buff bricks would be used with slate effect tiles for the roof. The windows and patio doors would have grey frames.
“Juliette balconies would be provided for the first-floor apartments with grey metal balustrades. Projecting canopies of the same colour would be installed above the front doors.
“Solar panel arrays would also be installed on the roofs. The proposed garden areas would be lawned and landscaped.
“Two public comments have been received objecting on the following grounds; losses of open space will be caused; disruptions may be caused during the construction phase; no parking for existing residents would be provided; and no parking would be provided for visitors.
“Policy requires that, in residential developments of ten dwellings or more at least 20 per cent of homes should be deemed appropriate to accommodate the needs of older and vulnerable people and that in residential schemes of 10 dwellings or more, the council will seek five per cent of new homes to be wheelchair adaptable. The application adequately fulfils those requirements.
“Concerns have been raised in public comments on design and visual amenity grounds. The proposed dwellings would have a relatively contemporary appearance and would replace an unsightly care home, recently demolished.
“Regarding vehicle parking, a total of 40 spaces are proposed. 37 would be for future occupants with three as replacement for those lost adjacent to 7 Shetland Close. An abundance of parking opportunities also exist along Shetland Close itself.”
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