joshua
Well-Known Forumite
Brooklands School, in Eccleshall Road, shut down in September 2013 after running into cash problems due to dwindling pupil numbers.
Now developer Adlington wants to demolish the buildings and build 51 apartments to care for those aged 65 and over.
The apartments would be self-contained but managed to provide care and would include eight one-bedroom, 11 two-bed, 24 two-bedrooom with ensuite bath/shower and eight three-bed with ensuites.
Stafford Borough Council's planning committee is set to give the go ahead to the plans on Wednesday.
But the application has sparked concerns, with neighbours fearing it will result in the loss of protected open space and a playing field. They say there is no need for development given other care home schemes at Stone Road and Lichfield Road.
There are also concerns about loss of historic buildings, inadequate public transport, excessive traffic, adverse impact on Doxey Marshes, inadequate parking and loss of privacy.
Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has also written to the borough council over residents' concerns about the size of the proposals, traffic, parking and impact on Doxey Marshes.
There are a number of protected trees on the site, which backs onto Doxey Marshes, so the developer is proposing to create a part two-storey and part three-storey building with open areas to the sides and rear and landscaped gardens.
The access would be from the southern entrance to the site, which would be widened and lead to 26 parking spaces on part of the former playground. The second northern access would be closed to vehicles.
In a report to the borough splanning officer Mark Alford said the existing buildings were not worthy of statutory listing and were "not special or unique". The new building would be five metres wider than the existing and it was not considered there would be harm to the street scene as much of the building would be sited westwards away from Eccleshall Road and would be stepped down.
Highways bosses have raised no objections as traffic generation "would be considerably reduced" compared to when the site was a school. They have also raised no objections to the number of parking spaces. Buffer planting would be done up to the Doxey Marshes boundary.
But the council is planning to negotiate compensation of around £80,000 for the loss of the playing field.
Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....tory-26567785-detail/story.html#ixzz3b9NJtAri
Follow us: @StaffsNews on Twitter | StaffordshireNewsletter on Facebook
Now developer Adlington wants to demolish the buildings and build 51 apartments to care for those aged 65 and over.
The apartments would be self-contained but managed to provide care and would include eight one-bedroom, 11 two-bed, 24 two-bedrooom with ensuite bath/shower and eight three-bed with ensuites.
Stafford Borough Council's planning committee is set to give the go ahead to the plans on Wednesday.
But the application has sparked concerns, with neighbours fearing it will result in the loss of protected open space and a playing field. They say there is no need for development given other care home schemes at Stone Road and Lichfield Road.
There are also concerns about loss of historic buildings, inadequate public transport, excessive traffic, adverse impact on Doxey Marshes, inadequate parking and loss of privacy.
Stafford MP Jeremy Lefroy has also written to the borough council over residents' concerns about the size of the proposals, traffic, parking and impact on Doxey Marshes.
There are a number of protected trees on the site, which backs onto Doxey Marshes, so the developer is proposing to create a part two-storey and part three-storey building with open areas to the sides and rear and landscaped gardens.
The access would be from the southern entrance to the site, which would be widened and lead to 26 parking spaces on part of the former playground. The second northern access would be closed to vehicles.
In a report to the borough splanning officer Mark Alford said the existing buildings were not worthy of statutory listing and were "not special or unique". The new building would be five metres wider than the existing and it was not considered there would be harm to the street scene as much of the building would be sited westwards away from Eccleshall Road and would be stepped down.
Highways bosses have raised no objections as traffic generation "would be considerably reduced" compared to when the site was a school. They have also raised no objections to the number of parking spaces. Buffer planting would be done up to the Doxey Marshes boundary.
But the council is planning to negotiate compensation of around £80,000 for the loss of the playing field.
Read more: http://www.staffordshirenewsletter....tory-26567785-detail/story.html#ixzz3b9NJtAri
Follow us: @StaffsNews on Twitter | StaffordshireNewsletter on Facebook
