Hereford city care home conversion plan passed

A plan to convert a former care home in Hereford into eight flats has been given the green light.

Local developer Manbro, which specialises in repurposing old buildings in the county, had applied to turn The Shires home, a three-storey Victorian former vicarage in the Aylestone Hill conservation area, into two one-bedroom and six two-bedroom properties for market sale.

They said that apart from removing external fire escapes and replacing a rear extension, their plan “does not require substantial alteration” to the building, which closed to residents at the start of last year.

With no official or public opposition to the proposal, planning officer Joshua Evans said the modest-sized flats would be “a welcome addition to the city’s housing mix”, with “minimal impact upon the existing building”.

He backed a recommendation by the county transport engineer for more secure cycle storage at the property.

Conditions preventing added outside lighting, and requiring installation of bird and bat boxes, also accompanied the granting of full planning permission.