Looking to the future for town’s elderly

Plans have been submitted for a £21/2m sheltered housing complex that it is hoped will revitalise the derelict former Mount Church of England School site in Newark.

St Leonard’s Trust wants to provide homes for up to 35 elderly people in a project that would involve restoring the original boys’ school building, which is listed for protection and dates from 1826.

The white rendered building (the old hall) that has a brick stair tower would be converted into a warden’s home.

The red brick buildings, seen from King’s Road, that were built in the 1930s and include the old gym have been repeatedly vandalised. They would be knocked down and replaced with the new parts of the development.

Guy Taylor Associates, of Newark, are the architects for the scheme, which incorporates environmentally-friendly features and carbon neutral materials.

Mr Guy Taylor, one of the architects involved, who is also the agent for St Leonard’s Trust, said the design was contemporary, with conservation in mind. It featured cedar wood boarding and lead flashing.

He said it was designed to respect views of nearby historic buildings such as Newark Parish Church.

“The former Mount School buildings have become an eyesore after several years of continual vandalism, and a focus for undesirable elements to congregate,” Mr Taylor said.

“The proposed sheltered housing will revitalise a neglected part of the town, bringing sustainable, eco-friendly buildings into the town centre.”

Air-source heat pumps would be among the sustainable technologies featured.

The apartments would have grass-covered roofs and would be set in landscaped gardens that could help to encourage wildlife.

Balconies with plants would add to the green spaces.

It is believed the new complex would fill a gap in housing provision in Newark, providing homes for pensioners who could not afford their own accommodation.

The trust has several sites in the area but they are full.

Mr Taylor said: “It is intended that all of the apartments will be subsidised and made affordable to elderly residents.

“This concept would allow the residents to afford to live in communities they wish to live in, with a respectable standard of living.

“Many elderly residents do not have the use of a car, and this site is within easy walking distance of most of the town-centre facilities.”

The site was sold by Nottinghamshire County Council after the buildings were deemed unsuitable for modern school use.

In September 2004, after three years of building work, the Mount pupils moved to new premises, built opposite the old school buildings.

In February permission was granted for a temporary carpark at the old site in a bid to help cut vandalism.

Newark town councillors, at a planning meeting, supported the application, due to be discussed next month by the district council, which will decide if the scheme can go ahead.

After the town planning meeting, the committee chairman, Mr Peter Foster, also a trustee for St Leonard’s Trust, said: “I don’t think it is going to have an adverse impact on Newark and it is a needed facility.”

Newark Civic Trust will discuss the application next week.