Back to the drawing board on sheltered housing scheme

THE redevelopment of a sheltered housing complex for Forres is still pending approval after the developers were told to go back to the drawing board with their plans.

Hanover (Scotland) Housing Association (HSHA) are reconsidering the application they submitted to Moray Council last May, for a new development on the site of Hanover Court, Leask Road.

The current building would be demolished and the housing

association proposes to redevelop the site into modern, energy efficient dwellings.

However, Historic Scotland flagged up concerns about a house next to the building and the

association was informed in December of the need to resubmit.

"There has been detailed consideration by Historic Scotland of the demolition of the former manager’s house as part of the conservation area consent," said a Hanover spokesperson. "As a

result, we have been asked to reconsider the design of the development taking this into

account and this is being reviewed."

A spokesperson for Historic Scotland said: "We recommended that the council should seek an amended scheme which retained the stone-built historic building which occupies one corner of the site; and that if it was to be demolished that the application would have to accord with the Scottish Historic Environment Policy and our guidance note on demolition within conservation areas.

He added: "We have had no correspondence with the council on this case since July 2012."

Hanover Court, built in 1977, is a development of 33 sheltered properties earmarked for a programme of modernisation over five to 10 years.

Following a detailed study by HSHA it was found that the most cost effective option was to demolish the existing development and construct 34 three-person extra care dwellings with associated support facilities in a new block.

The "Gazette" first revealed proposals to expand the complex in December 2010. The residents were moved to other Hanover Housing and council properties in the area over the following year.

All services to the building have since been disconnected and the ground floor windows secured to prevent unauthorised access.

The state of the building was raised at the most recent meeting of the Forres Community Council by member Eleanor Hayward.

"The windows have been boarded up for a year now – what is going on there?" she asked. "The residents have a right to know, especially as the open day that was promised has never materialised.

"The gap in Forres sheltered housing has yet to be filled and the plans for new housing have been in the system for a good while."

Moray Council received further objections to the plans for the redevelopment, which was made public in May last year, including perceived inadequate parking facilities and neighbours’ complaints about loss of privacy.

Mrs Hayward was among those who objected to aspects of the development with Moray Council.

"This location had very limited parking spaces which were totally inadequate for size of complex," said Mrs Hayward. "If new build has 33 flats plus 3, increased parking facilities will require to be implemented in plans."

Comments included one from a North Street resident who said: "I would be obliged if they could ensure there are no windows looking directly into my home as I have no desire to see people in their homes in vests, pyjamas or worse."

A Leask Road neighbour added: "There does seem to be numerous windows on the west side of the development. My concern is that some may overlook my property and grounds."