June 8, 2012 9.56 am This story is over 140 months old

Plans to turn vacant nursing home into student flats

Change of use: Developers are hoping to turn a care home closed by the council into student accommodation.

A property developer is proposing to turn the vacant Park View nursing home into five student flats.

Unity Property Group is hoping to put 53 bedrooms for students in the Park View premises on St Botolph’s Crescent, which was closed by the County Council last September.

The property group will add new kitchens, LED lighting, carpets and broadband to the property, with large living rooms areas and TVs in each bedroom.

Of the 53 rooms, based in three flats downstairs and two upstairs, nine will have an en-suite.

The house will run of as much green energy as possible, including biomass heating, and wind and solar power.

While the outside of the building will remain unchanged, fences will be repaired and some grass verges will be slated.

Around 20 bike loops will also be installed to encourage students to cycle instead of use cars.

Developers hope that the new accommodation block, which is situated down the south end of High Street, will relieve pressure for accommodation in the West End.

The University of Lincoln also support the project, believing the rooms would be ideal for its nursing students due to its location.

The developers recently informed residents in the area of the plans for the unused property, but it was met with mixed reviews.

Some believe that students would disrupt the quiet nature of the crescent and could upset the predominantly elderly families.

The proposals will later be put forward to the City of Lincoln’s Planning Committee for approval.