"Published on Wednesday 5 April 2006 16:06 A FORMER girls' boarding school looks set to be transformed into a state-of-the-art retirement village, with facilities open to the whole community. A formal planning application for the St Elphin's School site in Darley Dale is being prepared by Raven Audley Court PLC, who will build and manage a complex it says will be a new direction in caring for the elderly. Blueprints were put before Darley Dale Town Council last week, and the authority welcomed the scheme for 130 residential units in and around the main school building. Nick Sanderson, chief executive of Raven Audley Court, said: "Most people who live in care homes don't need to be there. "They only need some assistance and not round-the-clock care. We are creating independent housing for older people." The plans for the former school would see construction of a restaurant, bar and health and fitness facilities for use of residents and the wider community. Trained nurses would staff an on-site monitoring station, and could be alerted at the touch of a button in case of an emergency. But councillors questioned part of the development that encroached on land the town council wants preserved. Town mayor John Evans said: "The allotment part on the north west worries me because one of the principles on which I was elected to this council, is that that area along the A6 should not be developed." In response, the company director Ben Krauze agreed to review that aspect of the application. And Mr Krauze added that the plans would see special bat roosts installed, actively encouraging the mammals which currently nest at the site. Subject to securing planning permission, the company hopes to begin the first stage of work as early as October this year. Raven Audley Court manages similar sites in Devon, Kent and Harrogate. By Richard Woolley"
Reprinted by kind permission of Matlock Mercury |
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