First view of proposed care home - The Malvern Observer

First view of proposed care home

Malvern Editorial 28th May, 2015 Updated: 20th Oct, 2016   0

THIS image provides a glimpse of what the new care home earmarked to replace the former Malvern Community Hospital could look like.

Montpelier Estates’ plans to demolish the 104-year-old building to pave the way for the 50-bed home as the developers say they are unable to come up with a financially-sound solution to keep it standing.

The £6million scheme for the Lansdowne Crescent side has already been opposed by residents, with a petition against it racking up more than 160 signatures in the first five days of it going live.

And the plans also came under scrutiny when they were put on display for the first time at a public exhibition on Thursday (May 21), with Jacob Rock, of Malvern Civic Society, fearing demolishing the building would set a precedent in the town.




“A proper viable study needs to be done for alternative uses rather than going straight into the idea to demolish it,” he said.

“There is such a wide range of things it could be.


“The whole town is in important and something like this needs to have benefits for the people of Malvern.”

Coun Melanie Baker, councillor for the Chase ward, added: “Malvern is a very historic area and I can understand why people feel so emotive about this.

“It can’t stay as it is but we need to look at what options there are for it.

“In an ideal world we would be taking into consideration everyone’s concerns, issues, thoughts and coming up with the best solution for Malvern as a whole.”

James McGarry, director at Montpelier Estates, said: “We have presented the grounds in which we believe the existing building is no longer fit for purpose and we have presented a scheme which we believe is right for the area.

“This exhibition was about listening to the local community and taking their views before we submit a formal planning application.”

The hospital is within Great Malvern’s conservation area and was opened in 1911 but had its doors shut in 2010 when it was replaced by the new site in Malvern Link.

A formal planning application is expected to be submitted by the end of June.

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