Luxury apartments plan for former Alnwick care home gets the green light

Moorlands Holdings (NE) intend to create eight apartments at the redundant Ravensmount Care Home, off Alnmouth Road.

Directors Michael and David Ratliff, who also own Belford Golf Club, said: “We are delighted that after a very detailed scheme submission, and via Brian Wood Architect, internal conversion to eight large superior apartments has been approved.

“This preserves the home/building and good site. We are confident residents will now return.”

The redevelopment would feature three large apartments on the ground and first floors and two on the top floor.

Five of the flats would be three-bedroomed, two would have two bedrooms and there would be a single one-bedroom apartment.

The application was given the green light by Northumberland County Council planners using delegated powers.

Haley Marron, principal planning officer, reported: ‘Minor external alterations are proposed to facilitate the development including new door, window, roof lights and alterations to the rear extension. The alterations are largely internal.

‘There will be no change to the size, scale and footprint of the building. The trees to the front of the site are to be retained. For these reasons it is considered the proposals are acceptable and would not have an adverse impact on the local environment.’

Alnwick Town Council and local residents had expressed concerns about highway safety and access but the highways department had no objection. The development includes 15 parking spaces and the access will be widened.

The care home closed in 2016 and a previous proposal to convert the building into a boutique hotel failed to get off the ground.

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