Sheltered housing site in Cambridge that was fire risk set to be redeveloped into 29 council homes in £9.8m project

A former sheltered housing site in Cambridge that people had to leave due to “substantial” fire safety risks is expected to be knocked down and replaced with 29 council homes in a £9.8million project.

Cambridge City Council wants to redevelop Stanton House, in Christchurch Street, into “highly sustainable” properties.

The sheltered housing site had offered 33 studio flats until a risk assessment forced its closure.

A report presented to a housing and scrutiny committee meeting on 11 March said: “[Stanton House] has been identified for redevelopment being exposed to substantial fire risk due to a lack of compartmentation, the future cost of essential compliance works, the substandard nature of current accommodation which does not meet nationally described space standards, and the poor energy performance of the current building.

“Stanton House was at one time considered to be a care home, but has for many years operated as sheltered housing.

“The current building is no longer suitable for this purpose, but in accordance with the requirements of the local plan consideration will be given to the need for sheltered or specialist accommodation.”

Ben Binns, assistant director of development at the council, said the new homes would be a mix of one and two-bedroom flats, but it was hoped a three-bedroom flat could be included as well.

While the overall number of homes would be reduced, the flats would be bigger than the existing small studio flats.

Three of the 29 new flats would be made available as specialist housing.

Cllr Anthony Martinelli (Lib Dem, Market) was “very supportive” and looked forward to seeing further details.

Diana Minns, a tenant representative, said Stanton House used to house many people who had previously been homeless and asked what provision was being made for older people who are homeless.

Officers said the reason Stanton House had housed a high proportion of previously homeless people was because they had accepted the studio flats, which were “quite small and not desirable more generally”.

They added that the council is still able to provide accommodation for older people who are homeless in existing properties.

Cllr Cameron Holloway (Lab, Newnham) added that the council is planning to use money from a homelessness prevention grant to pay for a floating support service for older homeless people as well.

Harmony Birch, a tenant representative, raised concerns that 33 specialist units would be lost and replaced with just three.

Officers explained that sheltered accommodation in the city was not as popular as general housing and even people who qualify for it tended to prefer general needs housing.

The council has also recently opened more sheltered accommodation in the city, they added.

Work is under way on more detailed plans for the redevelopment.

A planning application will need to be submitted and approved before any building work takes place.