A Nottingham woman fears she will have to move after a 'ridiculous' supported living block next to where she lives was given the green light. A former beauty salon in Hucknall Road, Sherwood will be demolished to make way for a two-storey supported living block for 11 residents and staff, after plans were approved by Nottingham City Council's planning committee on Wednesday, March 22.
But Kim Jones, who lives in the property adjoining the building, has raised safety concerns over the level of support that would be given to the vulnerable residents and the quality of accommodation, as well as the prospect of antisocial behaviour. This criticism has been rejected by developer Hockley Developments, which said the project would reduce antisocial behaviour by bringing the site back into use and be built with "residents in mind".
The 63-year-old social worker team manager Ms Jones said she was anxious at the prospect of the facility being constructed next to her home. "I will not feel safe and will have to move if this goes ahead, as my garden wall is at the side of the building which they will have to take down and rebuild.
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"I live alone as well - you can't know the nature of people but you are likely to get some people with antisocial behaviour if they need staff 24 hours. There have been 60 different people who objected to it and only one supporting it.
"It is not just about antisocial behaviour, I work for social services so I know exactly what this type of complex will be. This will be cramming as many people in as possible, and there's no outside space for these residents.
"These are people with complex needs and usually the unqualified staff at these places and they've got no space to try and contain anything so it will just be on the street if anything happens."
Residents in Hucknall Road, Teesdale Road and Weardale Road were notified of the plans in October last year. However, Ms Jones claimed she was never invited to a meeting promised by the developers, and was upset she had not been directly told about the committee going ahead - which is not a planning requirement.
She added: "We weren't properly consulted. An 11-bed unit on the corner of the street is just ridiculous.
"They've ridden roughshod over people's opposition, the council and the developers. I feel like it's just been waved through."
At the planning committee, issues ranging from parking, anti-social behaviour and the scheme’s overbearing presence were raised by objectors. The current building was described as an “eyesore” in its current form and the design of the scheme was generally praised.
Planning officer Martin Hall said the building would be "targeted to residents who are able to live in the community" and added occupiers were unlikely to have cars that would contribute to parking issues. A tree on the pavement, which the developers had initially planned to fell, will now be retained following complaints.
Rebeka Dobuma, business development manager at Hockley Developments, said: “Hockley Developments was pleased to see a unanimous planning approval at Committee on Wednesday for this highly sustainable new build residential development in Sherwood of 11 apartments.
"All apartments are above the National Space standards, and these have been designed with residents in mind. A meeting was held by Hockley Developments with the local Berridge and Sherwood Councillors and the Commissioning team in December last year, with everyone happy with the design of the building.
"Several neighbours have been in touch very pleased to see that the current building, which has attracted anti-social behaviour and graffiti over the last 12 months, will be replaced by a modern development – and we look forward to providing these new homes in the near future.” After concerns had been addressed, councillors unanimously voted in favour of the plans at Nottingham City Council's planning committee.
Other residents previously had their say when the plans were first submitted last year.
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