A former community centre and temporary accommodation which once housed homeless people will be demolished by Newark and Sherwood District Council next month.
The council approved its own plans at a planning meeting on Tuesday (October 5), with the proposals to bring the demolition of all buildings at the Seven Hills site, in Quibells Lane, Newark.
It comes as part of a wider, council-led redevelopment of the site, which will see new accommodation facilities built alongside altered road access and improvements to a nearby footpath.
A previous application, approved by the authority in June 2021, suggested the new accommodation will avoid an “institutional feel”, provide a “feeling of safety” for residents, be secured and controlled with surveillance, and offer adaptable accommodation.
The approval of Tuesday’s application gives the green light for the demolition work to begin, with the council preparing documents to press forward with the wider redevelopment.
The authority expects the demolition to be carried out between November 8 and December 17, 2021.
Documents released ahead of Tuesday’s meeting show the site was initially used as housing and was first approved in 1981.
A separate application was approved nine years later for 42 houses, garages and on-site engineering works before permission was granted for it to be used for the homeless in 1990.
That application involved turning the site into the existing 30 bedsits, warden house, stores and community centre, which will all be demolished next month.
Commenting in Tuesday’s meeting, Councillor Laurence Goff (Lab), who represents the Devon ward, said: “We do have a need in Newark, and surrounding villages, for accommodation for homeless people who are needing help at this critical time.
“I hope in the future the council will consider a proper accommodation hostel for homeless people because we don’t have one.
“Newark is a growing town and in the future, we might need to have accommodation for people.”
Councillors approved the plans unanimously, giving the go-ahead for demolition work to commence in November.
