Sheltered homes for the elderly in Midsomer Norton judged ‘not fit for purpose’ will be replaced with sixteen new affordable properties after the Curo application was approved by B&NES Council.

The site in St Chad’s Green, close to Somervale School, currently has 25 homes in three blocks, but they have been slowly taken out of use since the decision was made public in 2014, with residents being rehomed since then.

The land is in Flood Zone 2 and 3 but social housing applicant, Curo, convinced the planning authority it could mitigate the risk to residents. Its plans said: “This re-development of a vacant site will provide high quality, affordable homes on land within the defined housing development boundary for Midsomer Norton and in a highly accessible location.”

A dozen of the homes will be for social rent and four will be intermediate – at a cost above that of social housing, but below the market rate. Of the social housing, five of the properties will have two bedrooms, five will have three and there will be one four-bedroom house. There will be a pair of two-bedroom and two three-bedroom intermediate properties. The existing flats are almost exclusively single bedroom and spaces will be created for 33 cars, 36 bikes and two disabled vehicles.

Bath and North East Somerset Council planning officers said reductions in the number of affordable homes are generally opposed, but noted that there will be a net gain in the number of bedrooms.

They added: “It is clear that the existing properties are no longer fit for purpose. They are not wheelchair accessible, poorly lit, are not served by gas, and fall below space standards. The development will result in an increase in bed spaces and will meet demand for family homes, rather than sheltered housing.

“The buildings have been vacant for some time, with the former residents rehoused. It is considered that a sufficient justification has been put forward and the development can be supported in principle.

“Overall, the development is considered of an acceptable siting, scale, layout, and design, and there will be no harm to the visual amenities of the area or the adjacent Conservation Area.”