Former Staffordshire school site to be turned into homes and health hub
A multi-million health park is to be built on the site of a former secondary school in Rugeley under new plans to tackle the growing demand for specialist housing for older people.
Staffordshire County Council, which owns most of the land, wants to transform the site of the former Aelfgar School in Rugeley.
The scheme is similar to a £12m centre due to open in Cannock next month, which is already oversubscribed.
The plan, still at the design stage, includes a GP surgery, pharmacy, community cafe, hairdressers and 60-bed extra care accommodation. The Cannock centre has been built on the site of the old Langbourn House care home.
The Aelfgar School in Taylors Lane closed in August 2011. The site, the size of almost three football pitches, also includes land owned by Cannock Chase District Council.
Council leader George Adamson said: "This has been born out of the success and demand for the Cannock centre. We firmly expect the Rugeley health park, which has the added advantage of being within walking distance of the town centre, to be oversubscribed too."
The district council land comprises squash courts closed 10 years ago when Rugeley Leisure Centre opened and a pay-and-display car park in Taylors Lane, part of which may be used as an access to the health park.
Tony McGovern, corporate director of Cannock Council, said: "We haven't had a planning application yet as the exact design and costings still have to be finalised but the intention by Staffordshire County Council is definitely there to develop the site in a similar way to the former Langbourn House site."
He said it was not yet known whether an existing GP surgery would transfer to the site or a new one set up.
The plan includes provision for staff being on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to lend care and support to the residents.
The accommodation features mixed housing , including town houses, semi-detached houses and flats.
District chiefs say any scheme should ensure improved access to the Rose Theatre and adjoining YMCA.
Although there would be a potential drop in income due to loss of part of the car park, they say the loss will be minimal because the car park is under-used. The number of spaces would fall from 47 to 32 .
Mr Adamson said it was hoped to start building work on the scheme later this year.
