Student rooms proposal for care home approved

A care home built for dementia patients will be turned into student accommodation after it became “a significant financial burden” for a county charity.

- By JULIA BREENS

The building, at 190 Ashby Road, Loughborough, was built by Abbeyfield two years ago.

The charity has provided care for elderly people in Charnwood for over 60 years.

Members of Charnwood Borough Council's plans committee have been told that a reduction in funding meant the specialist dementia care facility was never fully occupied, and that selling the building was “critical”.

However, Ashby Road is in an area which ward councillor Rhys Cory-Lowsley described as a “hotspot” for students, with a committee member claiming residents were “tired of the vomit in their garden”.

Architect Will Aust spoke to councillors on behalf of applicant Orange Lloyds, a company specialising in the buying and selling of real estate, according to government records.

Mr Aust told members the building was “perfectly suited” to being used as student accommodation.

He said Abbeyfield had been left with a “significant financial burden” after a reduction in funding.