Former Cambridge care home will make way for almshouses

A closed Cambridge care home is set to be demolished to make way for new almshouses.

The former Edward House care home in Albion Row is due to be knocked down and replaced with new sheltered accommodation.

The 15-bed care home closed in 2021 after it was found to be uneconomical to run.

The plans have been put forward by The Foundation of Edward Storey, a charity which offers sheltered housing for people over the age of 60 who are in financial need and have a connection to the Church of England.

The charity proposed to replace the care home with 16 one-bedroom flats, which will create an extension to its existing sheltered housing and facilities next door at Storey’s House.

The Foundation of Edward Storey told Cambridge City Council that all of the 47 apartments in the existing Storey’s House were full and that they had seven people on a waiting list.

Cllr Martin Smart (Lab, King’s Hedges) described the proposed building as “brutal” but said he recognised planning officer advice that the proposals were “reasonable”.

When a decision on the application was put to a vote, a majority of councillors voted to approve the plans.