A Rushcliffe apartment block originally intended to provide on-site care to older people could now become age-restricted living after plans were submitted to the council.
On Thursday (July 10), Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Planning Committee is due to discuss changed plans for the three-storey block which is currently “at an advanced stage of construction” on the land fronting Rose Way and Melton Road in Edwalton.
Applicant Anchor, a not-for-profit provider of housing and care for people in later life, submitted plans to the council in December 2024 to change the nature of the site.
In 2023, proposals for an “affordable” 77-apartment residential block that provided on-site care for older people were approved.
Now, the applicant wishes to remove the on-site care “as an integral component” of the site, allowing the block to simply exist as age-restricted living apartments – including an increase to 80 apartments in total.
Documents state the site’s repurposing would come after anticipated demand, and support and funding for the extra care originally proposed not being available.
Changes would also see parking spaces rising from 46 spaces to 48 and a reduction to the amount of communal space in the building due to the care function being removed.
While previous plans included 100 per cent affordable apartments, the updated plans note a “commitment that all 80 apartments will be affordable homes”.
The homes would be available to people over the age of 55 and include 31 one-bed units and 49 two-bed units.
Documents state there would be “no change” to the overall scale and outside layout of the building if the site’s changed purpose is approved, with internal alterations to the ground floor expected to make room for the extra apartments.
The plans have been met with some concerns and criticisms over the number of parking spaces available.
Nottinghamshire County Council – being the highway authority – objected to the scheme in February 2025 calling the 48 parking spaces a “substantial under-provision”.
It noted the previous approved plans, including on-site care, would naturally mean less reliance on cars but this would increase if used as an independent living block
After assessing the Transport Technical Note, the county council no longer objected, citing a frequent bus service and good off-street parking.
Councillor Hetvi Parekh (Con) expressed her objection over email, saying: “I am not satisfied that the [Transport Technical Note] accurately captures the issues and it compares the current site with other areas and Anchor developments, which in my view is not a fair comparison.
“As each planning application has to be decided on its own merits, the [Transport Technical Note] has offered no solutions to the lack of parking and the minimum statutory places required.
“As such, I am still going to object on this application with the material reason of lack of parking spaces.”
Vistry, a provider of affordable mixed-tenure homes, in partnership with Anchor, is also part of the £19 million deal behind the scheme.
The homes will be operated by Anchor, which is a registered social landlord which will work alongside the council on the units’ allocations.
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