Former paperboy looking to turn old Hazelmere House care home in Grimsby into apartments
FROM paper boy to company director – one Grimsby man is set to restore the care home where he once delivered newspapers.
A planning application has been submitted to North East Lincolnshire Council to turn the former Hazelmere House care home on Welholme Avenue, into 13 two-bedroom apartments, available to let.
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Plans: The Former Hazelmere House, on Welholme Avenue.
Applicants Kentmere Care Ltd, a family-run firm, has ties with the town and its directors have always liked the look of the Victorian building.
Director Ian Milner was born in Grimsby and recalls delivering papers to Hazelmere House when he was a teenager.
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He said: "The building has always fascinated me, but it is no longer suitable as a care home and has been empty and boarded up for years.
"I run the company with my brother and we are keen on providing accommodation – especially in which the elderly can live independently.
"There is enough room inside this old building to create 13 reasonably-sized apartments with a living/kitchen area and two bathrooms.
"Also on the site is a detached building which we are looking to turn into a bungalow. One of the things we are committed to is keeping the look of the building on the outside the same.
"In fact we will be restoring the property back to its original state, taking away ramps and features put in before to aid those at the care home."
If given the go-ahead by the council's planning committee, the apartments are scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
Ian said: "The building is in a prime location and I can imagine any accommodation like this will be snapped up.
"Not only is it close to the town centre, but central to main bus routes and other public transport.
"We are looking to rent out these homes for around £450 to £550 a month.
"Putting in the two bathrooms gives people the opportunity to share accommodation and, in turn, only pay just over £200 each a month.
"This is a small-scale development, so a formal community consultation has not been needed and instead we have consulted nearby residents informally.
"They are in favour of the building being brought back into use, but they did have concerns over the boundary hedge, which has overgrown and is making access to the road difficult.
"Within our plans, we propose to remove the boundary hedge and replace it with a fence."
Eldercare Developments were appointed by Kentmere Care Ltd to design the internal space within the main building.
A decision by North East Lincolnshire on the application is due to be made on Friday, March 8.
Keep checking your Grimsby Telegraph for further updates.
Have your say
Is there enough accommodation for the elderly in North East Lincolnshire? Should more developments of this type be set aside?
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