AN historic Colchester charity has unveiled plans to build more almshouses in a bid to move its efforts into the 21st century.
Winsley’s Charity wants to replace ten small bungalows with 16 flats designed for older people at its site off Old Heath Road, Colchester.
Since they were built in 1936, the bungalows in The Rose Garden area of Winsley’s have been upgraded but there is limited scope for further improvement, the charity says.
Former Colchester Mayor, Alderman and farmer Arthur Winsley, who died in 1726, left much of his property to form the charity to house 12 men who had “lived well and fallen into decay”.
Over the years, the trustees have sold off the charity’s land to provide more homes and to improve the properties, with the current 81 almshouses home to more than 100 people today.
Andrew Waters, acting trustee, said: “This is a rare opportunity to improve on the gifts of Arthur Winsley and others for the benefit of today’s and future residents by providing more and larger homes.
“We consulted our residents and neighbours before submitting a planning application for the one-bedroom flats in a two storey, L-shaped building fronting Gilberd Road.
“The flats will be purpose-built to meet current standards for access, heating insulation and fire protection.
“We have engaged Nicholas Jacob Architects to design an attractive building to fit in with our historic site and to minimise impact on our neighbours.”
In January 2019, the trustees completed a £1 million facelift to nine of its almshouses on the oldest part of the site, The Square, where some of the listed properties date to the 17th century.
None of these properties are affected by the latest plans, the charity stated.
The new blueprints see ten semi-detached, single-storey houses which have become “substandard” demolished and a new two-storey, 40 metre long building providing 16 flats built instead.
Associated works for vehicle movement and parking, along with new landscaping proposals have also been factored in to the plan.
The planning report reads: “It is an L-shaped block which creates its own formal garden bordered by enclosing features on the other sides.”
Colchester Council has the final say.
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