Malmesbury house must come down
4:00pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in News By Victoria Ashford
John Thomson, deputy leader of Wiltshire Council, with Simon Killane, Wiltshire councillor for Malmesbury, and town councillor Bill Blake
A former 1970s nursing home looks likely to be demolished in favour of independent living apartments in Malmesbury.
It is now thought the former Burnham House nursing home, Burnham Road, will have to come down to make way for new two-bedroom apartments to serve the elderly community, rather then use the existing facilities.
John Thomson, Wiltshire Council’s deputy leader, said: “The building is very difficult to reuse.
“It’s probably going to be demolished and a new building built on the site.”
A working party, which was set up to guide the project, met at the end of January to launch the tendering process.
Coun Thomson said: “We had a very good meeting and were able to agree a way forward. We have asked for members to come forward to approve four people who will go through the briefs from the possible providers to decide which scheme they like, and to choose the builder that will go ahead with the scheme.”
The project was announced in spring last year when members of the public voted at the area board for new independent living apartments. It is thought that construction will begin in November this year, leaving eight months for the working party to go through the tendering process, select a provider and secure planning permission.
The 45 units, made up of 15 apartments for rent, 15 for sale and 15 shared ownership premises are estimated to be ready by May 2014.
Burnham House has been empty since residents moved to Athelstan House four years ago.
Speaking in April when the decision to build the accommodation was made, Coun Simon Killane said: “There are currently people who live in expensive houses which are too large for them. Many want to move out but have nowhere to go to.
“We have an ageing population in Malmesbury and this will provide accommodation for people who want to retain their independence but could use extra support.”
