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Care home could be turned into homeless housing

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Reporting fromGreat Yarmouth
Andrew Turner/BBC Abbeyfield House Care Home is a two-storey yellow brick building. It has large windows and a large balcony on its upper floor. The building has a pitched tiled roof and hedging to the front.Andrew Turner/BBC
Great Yarmouth Borough Council wants to use the former Abbeyfield House Care Home to house people who are homeless

A former care home could be converted into accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, said a council.

Great Yarmouth Borough Council confirmed it had purchased Abbeyfield House Care Home in Norfolk, which closed in March 2023.

Some people who live near the building have said that the change of use could attract drug users, dealers, violence and crime to the area.

The authority's Planning Committee will decide on Wednesday whether to turn the premises into nine rooms to house people who are registered homeless, with a 10th room used for support workers on night shifts.

Andrew Turner/BBC Marilyn Robinson standing in the garden of her home. Beside her are two estate agents boards indicating the property is for sale. She is standing in a garden where paving and gravel is laid. She is wearing a black cardigan and a black top with white flowers printed into the design. She is wearing glasses and her greying hair is tied back.Andrew Turner/BBC
Marilyn Robinson says she is worried the application will cause a nuisance to her neighbourhood

Marilyn Robinson, 62, lives opposite the rear of Abbeyfield House. She said: "I was absolutely devastated. It was a sheltered housing for elderly residents, which was no trouble to us at all.

"Now we find it's going to be for homeless people and we aren't quite sure what they term as homeless people.

"The fact there is going to be someone there 24/7 to monitor or keep an eye on things leads me to believe they're not going to be the best residents on their own.

"This has been a lovely residential area for a long time and now they're going to put this smack in the middle of our estate and it's really worrying."

Ms Robinson, whose home is currently up for sale, said she was worried it would put potential buyers off.

"We were planning on downsizing, but now this has happened it's made us more urgently want to move.

Andrew Turner/BBC A planning notice, on orange paper is tied to a lamp post outside Abbeyfield Care Home. There is a white post and rail fence near the pavement and a tall hedge behind that, with the building visible behind that.Andrew Turner/BBC
Planning documents show the council would cut the hedging to the height of one metre to reduce the risk of concealing criminal activity

Mike Smith, who also lives on Bure Close, Great Yarmouth, which is near the building, said he was not particularly bothered by the application.

He added: "I am apprehensive because this is a quiet part of the town; we don't have any problems or complications with the people.

"But... [the accommodation] might change the character around here."

Great Yarmouth Borough Council said its officer would speak to the BBC after the meeting on Wednesday, but not before.

In the planning documents, the authority said: "Abbeyfield House will become a homeless person's main and principal residence whilst occupiers are supported to become 'tenancy ready' for mainstream housing and be able to successfully access sustainable permanent housing.

"The adjoining office space will be used by members of [the council's] staff and external agencies who are providing management and support. Staff will be present 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

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