‘Build complex, but please no riff raff’
RESIDENTS TORN OVER ASSISTED LIVING PLANS FOR EX-SURGERY
NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their hope the redevelopment of a surgery will not bring “riff raff ” into their area.
The derelict Bilborough Surgery, on Graylands Road, Bilborough, will be knocked down and replaced with a 15-bedroom assisted living complex if new plans are approved by Nottingham City Council.
The surgery closed in May 2021 following termination of contracts with the NHS and Nottingham Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) due to another facility being newly located within the immediate vicinity.
The former doctor’s surgery has now become obsolete and sits derelict within the site.
Locals had differing options on whether the accommodation was needed, with some concerned about who would move into the new flats.
Stephen Lunt, 63, who is retired and lives nearby, said: “I’m not too bothered about them building flats. People need spaces – and that’s fine as long as we do not get the riff raff.
“I’m not too worried about the construction noise as that’s part and parcel. It’s overgrowing again and it has been empty for more than a year.
“There are two surgeries nearby so we haven’t missed it since it closed. Hopefully with it being assisted living the right people will be coming in.”
The new proposal has been designed to meet the needs of an assisted living provider who intends to manage the residential units to support vulnerable people locally.
The applicant said the scheme has been designed to support “a defined user group and positions residents within proximity to local amenities by making efficient, practical use of the existing site”.
Nathan White, 55, from Bilborough who used to be a patient at the surgery, said: “I do not think it [the new flats] is needed. We do not need more flats around here.
“We should have built something for the community – like a sports centre or something.
“It is nice around here and there’s a lot of flats already. It all depends on the type of people they have in there, but supported living hopefully shouldn’t be a problem.”
The applicant had also said the empty building is attracting misuse and abuse due to broken windows.
They added the transformation would provide “a great benefit to the area and its future with robust construction and contemporary design features that will not be dated due to timeless and traditional accents provided along the facade.”
Retiree Patricia Toborg, 58, from Bilborough, said: “We already have assisted living properties close to here. We could do with something different really.
“Some more bungalows or affordable small homes would be good. More houses for older people.”
The site’s prospective developer, Bildbros Ltd, said the current building provided “limited immediate value, both economically and socially”.
]In a planning document, ARC Design Studio on behalf of the applicant said: “We consider the proposal to be both appropriate for and considerate to the context in which it is designed for.
“Any potential impact on the local context and community has been carefully considered through a series of focused studies that have worked to maximise the opportunities of the site whilst responding to identified constraints.
“By taking a previously vacant building and site with limited immediate value, both economically and socially, and redefining this as a purposefully designed block of residential units to alleviate demand on local housing, will support and promote an active and healthy socio-economic engagement between people and place.”
The planning application is pending consideration by Nottingham City Council.