CONTROVERSIAL plans to demolish Malvern’s former community hospital and build a new care home in its place are back on the agenda – four months after planning chiefs threw out their initial bid.
Montpelier Estates has resubmitted plans to Malvern Hills District Council to transform the historic Lansdowne Crescent building, which has stood empty for around a decade, to a new 46-bed care home.
Submitted plans centre on the creation of a three-storey building which significantly differs from the developers’ four-storey building and 50-bed plan which was rejected back in May.
It comes after council chiefs said the scale and bulk of the previous application ‘failed to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the surrounding conservation area.’
If approved, Montpelier say the plans will bring around £6million investment into Malvern and will provide the town with ‘improved health for local people through the provision of secure, comfortable accommodation and companionship within a stimulating, caring environment’.
In its Design and Access Statement, the Aylesbury based firm said the new plans offered ‘a coherent, well considered and positive response’ to the district council’s rejection.
It says: “The latest scheme was a considerable improvement on the previous scheme and was now a development which displayed confident and coherent approach and responded well to its location.
“The modification of the floor plate to reduce building height from four to three storeys was commended.”
Planning bosses have scheduled a target date for a final decision to be made for December.
The initial refusal was welcomed by leaders of Malven Civic Society who were part of a campaign in November last year to make the former hospital a Grade II Listed building – which was rejected by the Government.
A petition calling for the building to be preserved had racked up almost 500 signatures. But the campaign setback enabled developers to proceed with the refused planning application.
And the new plans have been criticised once again by Malvern Civic Society who say the site will still have an ‘adverse impact’ upon the area’s historic environment.
Civic Society chairman Clive Hooper said: “The building is in good order and not in a ruinous state and should be kept.
“The Society’s planning sub-committee will be discussing the new plans this week and will be writing formally to Malvern Hills District Council.”
What do you think of the redrawn plans? Email [email protected] to send in your views.
