Homes approved for former veterans' centre

The former Combat Stress site in Newport used to be the town's hospital

A former hospital, most recently used as a veterans' treatment centre, is to be turned into homes.

Planning permission has now been issued to convert the historic main building at Audley Court in Newport, Shropshire, into 11 apartments.

Another 32 houses will be built in place of more modern buildings at the rear of the site.

The owners argued the building was no longer suitable for community use, nor had the veterans' service been aimed at local people.

Audley Court closed to inpatient veteran care in 2017, although outpatient treatment continued for several more years.

An application on behalf of Cameron Galliers Homes said the "institutional" nature of the building made it incompatible with modern care uses.

Councillors approved the application last September, pending agreement on developer contributions to the council budget which have now been finalised.

The closure of the site by the Combat Stress charity was controversial, prompting a hunger strike by one veteran opposed to the change.

Frontage protected

Previous plans proposed the demolition of all or part of the original hospital building, which dates back to 1908.

Telford & Wrekin Council heritage advisers pushed for the whole of the main building's frontage to be retained, and 11 flats - up from nine - will now be incorporated into the building.

The converted apartments, about a quarter of the new properties, will be designated as affordable homes.