Thomas Parsons Square residents to benefit from move to purpose-built bungalows
Thomas Parsons’ Charity has been granted planning permission to build nine purpose-built bungalows for residents on land the charity owns on Deacons Lane in the Cathedral City of Ely in the heart of Cambridgeshire to be named ‘Chorister Court’.
The bungalows, which are set to be finished by autumn 2021, will replace the current almshouses at Thomas Parsons Square in the city and will help residents stay in the accommodation for longer.
The Thomas Parsons’ Charity almshouses at Thomas Parsons Square were built in 1884 and originally comprised of 30 units. In 1961 the Charity started to modernise the almshouses, enlarging the accommodation by amalgamating two or more units in to one.
The new bungalows have been designed so that residents can maintain their independence with step free access, convenient internal layouts and high levels of insulation. The almhouses will also come with digital and satellite TV, broadband connection and storage for electric chairs and buggies with charging points.
The decision to relocate residents was made following a long-term review by the governors of the charity, after taking advice from The Almshouse Association. They deemed that, because of its Grade II Listed status, the existing almshouses could not be adapted to help residents maintain their independence for as long as possible. The scheme will provide six one bedroom and three two bedroom single storey units with gardens.
Chorister Court is located adjacent to the Charity’s other almshouses at Bamford House and Deacons Lane Bungalows meaning that all of the Charity’s residents will be in one location, where there will be 25 units in total. This will benefit the residents who will be in a close knit community.
Thomas Parsons Square will be retained by the Charity and a decision on its future use will be made in due course.
David Brand, Chairman, of the Thomas Parsons Charity, which was founded in 1497, said:
“The governors all felt that building new almhouses that were specifically designed for older people would greatly benefit residents and the fact is we could not do that with Thomas Parsons Square, because of the constraints of the building having listed status. The residents needs are of paramount concern to the governors of Thomas Parsons Charity and we look forward to welcoming the residents to the new almhouses once they have been completed.”