Spalding Bull & Monkie site could become 88-bed care home as plans are lodged with South Holland District Council
Plans have been lodged to transform the eyesore Bull and Monkie pub site into an 88-bed care home.
The scheme, lodged by owners Crispen Holdings, aims to bring to an end a long-running saga in which the prominent Spalding town centre site has deteriorated to become a notorious grot spot since the pub closed in 2007.
The care home would be run by Abbey Healthcare – and each of its 88 single occupancy bedrooms would be equipped with an ensuite wetroom, with decor that aims to ‘rival a comfortable hotel’ according to documents submitted to South Holland District Council with the planning application.
It would have 13 parking spaces, with road access from Churchgate.
Pre-application talks have been held with officers and councillors during 2022 ahead of Crispen finally lodging its scheme. During these talks, it’s said that the council confirmed the ‘principle’ of a care home on the site was ‘acceptable’. However, the plans will now need formal approval before they can progress any further.
A care home was proposed for the site in 2009 – but the design has now been altered to try to take ‘greater account of the local context of the site’. Other ditched proposals included demolishing the pub to make way for a car park and a scheme of townhouses and apartments.
A design and access statement issued alongside the planning documents stated that Crispen wants to come up with a design that is ‘considered suitable by all’.
The documents state: “The appropriateness of residential care use upon the site and the applicant’s commitment to the development has been clearly demonstrated as a direct response to concerns raised by officers during the pre-application process.
“Through considered design development, the proposed design responds to a primary aim of achieving a much needed form of elderly care development, contributing to the area of Spalding with a rich palette of building and style, whilst merging into the existing context.”
What do you think? Do you welcome the development? Post your comments below or email andrew.brookes@iliffepublishing.co.uk
