Plans to build 54 council homes for elderly people on the former General Hospital site are on course, following Mansfield District Council’s successful application for planning permission.

The council is now procuring a contractor with a view to starting work on the social housing scheme in June, with completion due around November 2017.

The estimated £8.5 million gated development will provide 42 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and 12 bungalows for rent. Consideration is being given to make six of the bungalows available for sale through a shared ownership arrangement.

The homes will be set around a landscaped ‘village green’ incorporating a trim trail with outdoor fitness equipment.

The apartment block will offer communal facilities including a TV lounge, a quiet reading room, a dining room served by a communal kitchen and an outdoor terraced area. Storage will also be available for mobility scooters and cycles.

The scheme, which is for people aged 55 plus, offers accommodation for residents with a range of needs, from people with support and extra care needs to the active elderly.

Mansfield District Council’s partner Nottinghamshire County Council, which is contributing £400,000 towards costs, will be able to nominate residents for ten apartments designated for people with extra care needs.

This exciting new development will bring back into use a plot of land, which has been derelict for at least 20 years, and along with the Poppy Fields extra care scheme, will be one of the most significant social housing projects in Mansfield in recent years.
Executive Mayor Kate Allsop said: “We are delighted that this scheme has taken another major step towards completion, providing much needed housing for people aged over 55.

“We chose to develop this site ourselves as part of our commitment to providing high quality, affordable housing across the district. This accommodation will enable older people to live both independently and with support, and will cater for a range of needs.”

Councillor Muriel Weisz, Chair of Nottinghamshire County Council’s Adult Social Care and Health Committee, said: “It’s great news that this project has reached this key milestone, which will mean we will have two extra care schemes in the Mansfield area for the benefit of local older people.

“Extra care gives people greater flexibility than traditional residential care and offers residents their own home with the care and support they need on site, as and when they need it.”

To watch a video about the new scheme, visit Mansfield District Council’s YouTube account.