Green light for plans to house vulnerable women

PLANNERS ARE recommending the green light for new homes for vulnerable women in the grounds of a historic house in East Hull.

Holderness House was once the home of the city’s great benefactor Thomas Ferens, who helped found the city’s university and one of its most successful companies.

Set in six acres of woodland and gardens, the house, on Holderness Road, became a “rest home for poor gentlewomen in reduced circumstances” as set out in the MP’s will, following his death in 1930.

It continues as a residential care home for women run by the Holderness House Trust.

Developers want to convert outbuildings of the Grade ll-listed property into seven flats and build eight one-bedroomed bungalows in the grounds off Laburnum Avenue.

Documents submitted as part of the planning application state that Holderness intends “to transfer some of its land to Winner Trading with a view to developing the land to provide some independent living accommodation for vulnerable women”.

The proposals are due to be discussed by councillors next Wednesday.

Planners say there are “sufficient positives to justify and support an application of this nature on the site in question”.

They add: “The proposed scheme is for the provision of much needed accommodation.

“The scheme design is of high quality and the key factor is to ensure and encourage the occupants to feel at home and safe within their home.

“With an increasing need for housing of this nature we believe that this proposal is justified.”

A large number of mature trees “of notable arboricultural value” are expected to be retained along with so-called “Category B” trees to “maintain existing mature canopy cover”.

Mr Ferens, who served as Liberal MP for East Hull, was one of the founders of household goods manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser and donated £250,000 to establish Hull University.

He also provided the funds for the Ferens Art Gallery.