Aldridge retirement homes facing demolition

The Hawthorns in Erdington Road, Aldridge, was granted planning permission on the basis of being a 70-bedroom care home - but officers from Walsall Council say it is not being for such use.

It is claimed the building has been transformed into rented flats, according to a report to Walsall Council's planning committee.

A planning application was lodged in 2012 to demolish the former Baytree House Care Home and build a new three-storey care home in its place.

But enforcement action is now being sought after officers discovered the building instead contains 70 self-contained flats.

The building is occupied by seven residents, with one of them needing a district nurse service and three needing personal care from an external provider.

Planning chiefs will be encouraged to take enforcement action when they meet on Thursday.

If agreed, bosses will have three months to demolish the building and restore the land to its previous condition or face prosecution.

Walsall Council's head of planning and building control David Elsworthy said: "The owners have admitted that they are not intending to operate as Care Quality Commission qualified premises and there is to be no 24 hour nurse on site.

"The owner's have confirmed that no registered domiciliary, respite or dementia is to be provided.

"The operators do provide assistance to daily living but this is not quantified in terms of minimum levels of provision over a set period of time."

He added: "In issuing an enforcement notice for the building operations planning officers will need to seek the removal of the building in its entirety as it does not benefit from planning permission.

"It may be the case, however, that there are lesser steps which could be taken to make the building conform with the approved plans and the operator of the building may wish to discuss this with planning officers."

The report said residents did not benefit from extended secured tenancies and notice periods of only 30 days were in place.

Officers have recommended that each person's needs are assessed prior to any action being taken to establish if alternative accommodation meeting their requirements can be secured.

Mr Elsworthy added: "Until such time that all residents can safely be re-housed in a suitable location, any

enforcement action should be put into abeyance."

He said it had been confirmed that the property was owned by SIPL Saints Propco S.A.R.L. in Luxembourg and was leased to the operators Avery Homes RH Ltd of Northampton.