There’s a change of plans for a derelict eyesore on the edge of Newport as a new party steps forward – but its proposal would see more houses and less supported living that the previous one.
In 2015, the Isle of Wight Council agreed a scheme to demolish the former Polars Residential Care Home and build a 67-bed care home, with 13 homes in the grounds.
The mid to late 19th-century Staplers Road building has stood empty and become increasingly unkempt since 2017, when it was sold to its current owners.
No major work has started on the brownfield site and it has fallen into a state of disrepair, causing concern for neighbours, however, in February, a demolition firm moved onto the site to complete a ‘soft strip’ of the interior.
Now, Specialised Supported Housing (SSH) says it wants to take it on and plans 24 houses — to be sold at full market price — and 20 supported living units, with enough space for 24 residents.
Through its planning agent, SSH says the alternative scheme is necessary because has only ‘a limited time’ to pursue its proposal.
In documents submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, Andrew White Planning Consultancy, on behalf of SSH, says this type and scale of mixed housing is essential to ensure the Island can cater for the identified need.
The supported living accommodation is a different form of care, aimed at disabled adults. The developers say it would increase residents’ independence over time, with the aid of assissted technology.
It is proposed SSH would build the scheme and then lease the housing to providers like Southern Housing Group or Vectis Housing, who would then manage and maintain the property.
The specialist units would comprise 12x 1-bed apartments, 6x 1-bed bungalows and 2x 3-bed apartments which would be for younger adults trying to become more independent.
The development, Mr White said, would create a small community which would be inclusive in nature. He said SSH, which has already developed one specialist housing scheme on the Island, is prepared to act swiftly with demolition and site clearance.
View the plans, 22/00918/FUL, on the council’s planning register. Comments can be submitted until 8th July.
Always love the kindly artist impression of how it is expected to appear.
Perhaps as they have two different types of buildings one for disabled and for for able bodied, the road could be named “Bi-Polars”, instead of the normally anything but inaccurate names such as ‘Bluebell Meadows’, when all you see is swathes of concrete and red boxes, with not a swaying grassy field of bluebell in sight.
more cars piling onto staplers – more people, longer queues at the Dr and Hospital, no dental already …do these people ever learn.
and one other point – who the hell wants to pay full market rates for a house, that will have neighbours all living off benefits, with the associated anti social behaviour that comes with it.
social housing and private housing do not work together, as resentment amongst those that are working and paying for their home grows as they see the spongers next door getting it all for free.
Everyone loves the biggest spongers of all up in London’s big house though it seems. So why not the “normal” spongers.
This building work doesn’t make sense .
The infrastructure is not in place to cofer the influx of people.
Hospital & doctors can’t cope now.
Absolute madness, will soon be ‘concrete Island’.
24 houses at full market value… more buy to let properties which Islanders cannot afford !! Why stop the care home ?? Would have been better to build a hospital, and then a tunnel to mainland.. !!
We need a tunnel before more houses… so business’ can come to this Island, jobs for Islanders so they can afford these houses…
COUNCIL can anyone there read ? WE NEED A TUNNEL to the mainland, which will bring new companies and more jobs and people will have the freedom of movement, not be prisoners due to ferries ruling the people here.
no, a tunnel will just bring more misery and higher prices – we are fine as we are – move to the mainland if it is bothering you so much.
there will be no tunnel this side of 2050 that you can be assured of.
Borinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng