A BID has been launched to turn an abandoned care home targeted by vandals and which councillors said could house refugees into a shared home for 46 people.

Goldgate Properties Limited has applied to turn Trippier House in Greenstead, Colchester, into a house of multiple occupancy.

Future residents living in the 46 individual en suite rooms would share communal kitchens and dining areas, according to planning statement.

The site has been vacant for four years.

A section of the application reads: “The care home site is previously developed land within a highly sustainable location with a good range of services, right on its doorstep.

“The change of use to an HMO is an ideal re-use of what has become a problematic vacant site.”

A later section reads: “While vacant, the site quickly became a target for vandals, which has left it in a poor condition, negatively impacting the wider residential area.”

The statement also says councillors have previously suggested the site could be used to house Ukrainian refugees.

However, the council has not bought the land or put forward any funding, so any possibility of this happening will be decided by the private sector, it continues.

According to planning documents, the application has been “called in” by Greenstead councillors. 

Their objection claims the developer has “neglected” the site and was  “forced to act through legal means” by Colchester Council.

A section reads: “The developer did indicate they would reinstate it as a care home but appear to have gone back on their word.

“The scheme seems ugly and not in keeping with this quiet, residential area and there would be a severe loss of amenity to the neighbours.

“It is a very poor scheme and, on behalf of the Greenstead ward councillors, we object to it in the strongest possible terms”

The application is for outline consent, meaning councillors whether to decide on approving the plans in principle.

Final details over layout and appearance would then be submitted at a later stage.

Colchester Council will determine the plans.

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