A disused care home is set to be demolished to pave the way for the construction of affordable housing. Ecton Brook House, located in the Ecton Brook area of Northampton, has remained vacant since 2016.
Originally constructed in the 1970s to accommodate up to 46 elderly residents in assisted living arrangements, the closure of Ecton Brook House prompted the relocation of its occupants to alternative facilities.
Describing the current state of the building as “reasonably run down,” local planning documents indicate no objections to its demolition, citing the potential for improvement in the area.
According to reports from the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the proposed development entails the complete demolition of the existing care home, to be replaced by 18 primarily two-storey residences equipped with solar panels. Additionally, plans include the provision of a 37-space car park.
These homes are slated to be managed by Northampton Partnership Homes (NPH), a housing management entity wholly owned by West Northamptonshire Council. Among the planned dwellings, two will be designed to be wheelchair accessible.
While the council’s policy typically stipulates the inclusion of low-cost home ownership options in such developments, an exception was made in this instance following explanations provided by NPH.
Although an earlier planning application had promised the inclusion of a community hub, the current proposal does not incorporate this feature.
Approval for the project was granted during a recent planning committee meeting. Councillor James Hill, representing the Billing and Rectory Farm ward, expressed his enthusiasm for the development, citing the pressing need for affordable housing in the area.
He also hinted at the possibility of future applications for a community center building on the site.
