Plans to provide 44 new homes at Bruce Grove almshouses approved

Existing properties will also be revamped as the almshouses are described as “no longer fit for purpose”, reports Grace Howarth, Local Democracy Reporter

The Drapers' Almshouses in Bruce Grove, Tottenham — The Drapers’ Almshouses in Bruce Grove, Tottenham

Extensions will be made to almshouses in Bruce Grove to create 48 new homes.

Applicant, The Drapers’ Almshouse Charity, will see the new properties built alongside the 44 existing almshouses in Edmanson’s Close.

Built in 1869, and set up like an open-sided quadrangle, the site holds a lot of value with some of the buildings, such as an onsite chapel, being Grade 2-listed.

Pippa Nesbitt, a planning consultant representing The Drapers’, said the almshouses were “no longer fit for purpose” and “required substantial investment to meet modern day standards” after a “small number of remaining residents had to vacate the premises last year”.

Addressing the council’s planning committee on Thursday (6th) she said: “The conditions inside are very poor and the building has struggled with continuous damp and is cramped.”

Pippa said the design prioritised “restoration” and the proposal “made more use of the site”.

A 1970s infill building and laundry building will be demolished to make space for the new homes. Alterations to the existing 44 homes will be made to accommodate 26 new homes.

While changes to the site’s gatehouse will provide another home and the infill building will be replaced with a three-bedroom home, a new apartment building comprising 20 homes will also be constructed.

Bruce Castle’s Labour councillor Ibrahim Ali gave a deputation highlighting the improvements on previous versions of plans, but criticised the lack of affordable homes.

He said: “I think that is a scandal and quite disappointing in the least. This is the second scheme that has been brought to the committee in the last twelve months in the listed part of my ward that has no affordable housing.

“We’ve got the largest number of sheltered housing schemes in the borough in our ward. We’ve got a large elderly population too.”

The charity’s representative did not confirm who the intended new tenants would be, except there would be a mix of ages.

She said the properties would be used for “charitable purposes” but couldn’t promise each home would be used as an almshouse “going forward”.

Following the discussion, six committee members voted in favour of the plan while one abstained and another voted against it.

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