Former Oswestry care home to be turned into flats

The scheme at Hartlands Rest Home on Salop Road in Oswestry would see eight one-bedroom apartments installed at the now empty facility.

The home, which provided 21 beds for elderly people, closed in December 2023 after a Care Quality Commission inspection rated it “inadequate”.

The Victorian property was marketed for sale in March with an auction price of £470,000. The home was deemed unviable due to there being two new sites within half a mile away.

An alternative use was to provide residential care for the physically disabled, or those with a past or present mental disorder, or a dependance on alcohol or drugs.

However, even though both uses are viable, it was considered that neither was acceptable.

Therefore, a conversion to apartments has been chosen. It will consist of four apartments on the ground floor and four on the first floor, with the removal of extensions to create more outside space.

There will be six off-road parking spaces, a turning area, and enough outside private and communal amenity space for bin storage, bike storage, drying, washing, and sitting. Vehicular access off Stewart Road would remain unchanged, as will the pedestrian access.

“The site is very sustainable as a residential development,” reads a design and access statement.

"It is located in a town centre close to a whole range of facilities, such as shops, supermarkets, parks, surgeries, pubs, churches and places of work which can all be reached on foot within a few minutes, greatly reducing the need for vehicles.

“The proposal puts a currently under-utilised building to full use. It provides much-needed accommodation with minimal impact in a sustainable location. As such, it is hoped that this proposal for change of use will be considered acceptable and permission granted.”