Westgate development
From:
Shey Cobley
Date:
Feb 26 09:52 UTC
Short link
All,
Please find below the Michael's response to last weeks questions:
Q. Why is it considered necessary to demolish the the purpose built sheltered
housing at Abbey Place?
A. The Westgate developers came forward with the proposal. The scheme includes
building a multi-storey car park, shops (including shopmobility and cycle shop)
and flats (50% affordable) on the Abbey Place car park, the location of the
College’s Evelode building and site of the Abbey Place flats. Planning
permission has been granted for this development. The City Council, in
considering the scheme as a whole was aware that the implications of the
development would involve the demolition of these properties. However, it
concluded that on balance that there were no substantive grounds to withhold
the grant of permission.
Q. Why is it proposed to evict tenants such as multiple sclerosis sufferer
Vincent McKeown without making a formal offer of suitable and comparable
housing?
A. A formal offer of suitable and comparable housing will be made to all the
tenants. Indeed an informal offer has already been made to all tenants
including Vincent KcKeown of a purpose designed and suitably adapted home at
Albion Place. New purpose built flats are currently being constructed here
which will be ready for occupation later this year.
Q. The Abbey Place development was only built in 1986, and was specifically
designed for people with physical disabilities and older residents. In
proposing to demolish this building and replace it with a car park, isn’t the
City Council now demonstrating that it values the interests of commerce above
the interests of its own most vulnerable citizens?
A. It is not the City Council that is proposing to demolish this building. As
explained above it was the Westgate developers that came forward with the
proposal. The City Council as planning authority can only refuse planning
permission where it has reasons that it can substantiate, if necessary at a
planning appeal. In this instance the developer, at its own expense is
replacing the properties in a comparable location with modern purpose built
homes specifically designed for people with physical disabilities. The new
homes at Albion Place will meet the latest building control energy and
sustainability standards and are designed in consultation with the needs of
individual tenant.
Therefore there were no substantive grounds upon which to refuse planning
permission. And the City Council has ensured that the developer goes to
considerable lengths to provide suitable alternative properties for this group
of people. In so doing the City Council has demonstrated that it does not put
commercial interests above those of vulnerable citizens.