Focus on homes for couples (From Stroud News and Journal)

Focus on homes for couples

A FORMER disability treatment centre in Minchinhampton will be turned into a retirement village for couples if developers get the go ahead from Stroud District Council.

Award-winning London-based property developers English Courtyard Association last month submitted plans to turn the 1.5-hectare Stuart House site into 22 retirement homes.

Minchinhampton Parish Council is to make its formal comments on the proposals when its planning committee meets on Monday, June 30 at 7pm in the Vestry Rooms, before the plans go to the district council.

Company land manager Paul Harper said: "There is a strong local need for the scheme and certainly up to now we are delighted with the very positive response. Our proposals have received from the community at large."

If the developers win planning permission, they hope to begin construction in the autumn, with the first of between 40 and 50 residents occupying the homes in the middle of 2004.

The cost of any development is expected to be between two and three million pounds.

English Courtyard Association bought the three-storey Victorian house and its grounds from the Gloucestershire Association for Disability, to whom it had been bequeathed by village spinster Enid Stuart.

It proposes turning Stuart House into four new flats and building three new blocks of cottages and flats set around landscaped courtyards, and linked by footpaths.

With a design influenced by medieval almshouses, the complex is intended to cater for retired couples rather than individuals.

Under the scheme, 30 of the site's 150 trees would be felled and a non-disturbance zone created around an extensive badger sett in the trees nearest Butt Street.

Limited on site demolition will include the Beech Haven building and the modern-style treatment centre attached to Stuart House, along with the small garden sheds.

Accommodation will also be provided for a 24-hour warden, who will serve as a designated mini-bus driver.

Mr Harper said: "It is a scheme for retired people and will have a resident courtyard manager, which is nice because it maintains the historic care provision associated with Stuart House."