A HOUSING association has lodged plans to demolish ‘existing poor quality’ retirement housing in Basingstoke and replace it with 21 new homes.

Sovereign Housing Association has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to redevelop Malmesbury Field, in Stanford Road.

The existing building is made up of 40 dwellings, the majority of which are bedsits, but the proposal says that it is “no longer able to meet the housing needs” of those who Sovereign provide homes for.

The application continues: “The current building does not have a lift, making many of the homes unsuitable and inaccessible for disabled residents.

“The majority of existing accommodation consists of bedsits in an area where more traditional housing is the prevailing typology.”

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The association also says that car parking is insufficient, and the current heating system is failing.

“Sovereign Housing have been considering various options for the site. In order to provide accommodation to acceptable modern standards, the demolition of the existing building is required,” the proposal says.

If approved, Malmesbury Field would be replaced by 21 dwellings, comprising of two four-bed houses, six three-bed, four two-bed homes, along with six two-bed flats and three one-bed flats. Forty per cent of the homes would be affordable housing.

There will be 27 parking spaces, 10 visitor cycle parking spaces and landscaped communal amenity space.

“The brief from the outset of this project is to design and deliver a place that will embody a strong sense of belonging and facilitate residents to create a caring and engaged community from the first day they move in.

“The dwellings include a mix of one and two bedroom apartments in addition to two bed, three bed and four bed houses. Parking is provided in communal parking courts to ensure the central communal amenity is car and vehicle free.”

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The housing association went to the borough council in June and received pre-application advice.

The original pre-application scheme was based around the creation of a large central semi-private communal garden, alongside smaller private gardens.

“Whilst the concept was appreciated by officers, they ultimately deemed that the overall site was too small to comfortably accommodate the desired concept. Officers however recognised that the site’s location was sustainable and suitable for development in principle,” the application said.

Officers deemed that the proposed development would more than double the number of bed spaces, due to the number of people permitted to live in each home.

To view the application, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk/online-applications and search 22/02519/FUL.