Houses can be built at former medical centre (From Evesham Journal)

Houses can be built at former medical centre

12:30pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in News

A DERELICT site in the centre of Pershore will be transformed into 13 new homes after proposals were unanimously approved by Wychavon planners.

The former medical centre in Priest Lane will be demolished and turned into properties by Rooftop Housing Group. There will also be eight car parking spaces for residents and 15 allocated for the Primary Care Trust.

The plans were opposed by the town council, which said it wanted some of the PCT spaces to be moved to car parks at the Wychavon District Council Civic Centre.

Town mayor Charles Tucker added: “We feel there is a little bit more work to do to get the car parking provision sorted out.”

Town councillors had previously complained that there were fewer parking spaces than homes on offer, meaning that not everyone who moved into a property would be able to park on site, which could have a knock-on effect in other parts of the town like Priest Lane.

Concerns were also raised over the likelihood of vandalism in the alleyway through the site in which all the properties will be ‘affordable housing’.

Coun David Brotheridge said no one could doubt the need for sustainable homes and that the plans were the best that could be achieved.

Coun Judy Pearce said it was important to approve the development as part of the funding was coming from the Homes Community Agency.

“If we don’t give it to them today they will lose the money because they won’t be on site in time,” she said. “If we lose the money we will lose the ability to get the site developed.”