Care home to replace vacant city centre offices

Plans were approved to convert Ruthlyn House at 90 Lincoln Road, Peterborough into a 24-bedroom facility

A new care home has been approved to replace former offices that housed an accountancy firm.

Plans were submitted to convert Ruthlyn House at 90 Lincoln Road, Peterborough into a 24-bedroom facility spanning two floors.

The planning application outlined a ground-floor kitchen and dining room, private lounge areas, quiet spaces and staff rooms.

The care home is expected to employ about 20 staff members and have parking provision for 14 cars.

Peterborough Civic Society described the use of the building as a care home as "reasonable" but raised concerns about the site's layout.

It said: "The Civic Society welcomes the retention of the Edwardian frontage of the building, which is just outside the border of the park conservation area.

"However, we do have concerns with what appears to be a very cramped internal layout, particularly the kitchen and dining areas, and very limited amenity space for residents, both inside and outside."

Cambridgeshire Police did not object to the plans but called for crime prevention measures to be considered at the earliest opportunity, including proper lighting around footpaths and parking bays.

The plans were approved by Peterborough City Council.