Frequently Asked Questions about the redevelopment of St Michael's Court, Thurmaston

We have put together the below frequently asked questions about the proposals to redevelop St Michael's Court in Melton Road, Thurmaston.

Further questions will be added throughout the duration of the project.

Why is the Council proposing to replace St Michael’s Court?

St Michael’s Court in Melton Road, Thurmaston was developed over 50 years ago and no longer meets the current needs of older people.

It comprises mostly bedsits with shared bathrooms which are difficult to let.

The Council is proposing to replace St Michael’s Court with nine high-quality individual bungalows.

Compared to other Council operated schemes, St Michaels Court has the most bedsits. It has therefore been prioritised for redevelopment and the former residents were made aware of this.

Proposals are subject to planning permission.

Could it be replaced with a similar sheltered accommodation scheme?

The Council has considered a replacement sheltered scheme however the size and location of the site would not be able to accommodate a similar scheme which would meet the aspirations of older people and be good value.

The site is next to a listed church which could limit the scale of any development.

The data from the housing register also shows that people need ground floor accommodation, and the proposed bungalow scheme will meet that need.  

More information can be found in this cabinet report.

Where can I find out more information about the proposals?

The Council held a drop-in event on Tuesday June 6 where the local community were able to find out more about the proposals, view the proposed designs of the bungalows and ask any questions they may have.

Many thanks to everyone who came along to the event and spoke to officers about the proposals.

Have the former tenants of St Michael's Court been consulted?

We visited each tenant individually to identify aspirations around future accommodation, and to set out the package of support in place to help with moving and offered alternative accommodation.

Steps have also been taken to ensure that tenants are not financially disadvantaged.

The Council will continue to communicate with the former tenants of St Michael’s Court throughout the duration of the project.

Have any other engagement or consultation activities taken place?

The Housing Management Advisory Board was consulted at its meeting in January 2023, and is in agreement with the redevelopment of the site into new bungalow accommodation.

Businesses and residents in the local area along with the few remaining tenants of St Michael’s were invited to a drop-in event in June to view and discuss the proposals as well as offer feedback.

Will the Council need to submit a planning application?

Yes proposals are subject to planning permission. The Council has submitted a planning application and this can be viewed on the Planning Explorer portal.

I am a local resident or business; how can I keep up to date with the project?

We will be issuing regular email updates about the redevelopment and works in relation to the scheme which may be useful to residents and local businesses in the area.

To sign up to receive these updates, complete this online form.