Fresh doubt over former nurses building after demolition notice appears

Local residents opposed to the demolition of the Shrubberies join forces in protest.

The Shrubberies building on Newbold Road, which used to be a former nurses home, was saved from demolition in January after planning chiefs rejected proposals to turn it into 13 new properties.

However, a notice has appeared on the building stating the new proposed demolition will take place on March 15.

The notice says: “I give notice that Peppermint Grove Ltd intends to demolish the building described and is applying to Chesterfield Borough Council for a determination whether the prior approval of the authority will be required to the method of proposed development and any proposed restoration of the site.”

Chesterfield Borough Council said the planning application, which was refused at the January planning committee meeting, was for the demolition of the building and for future development of the site.

The applicant has since submitted a prior notice for demolition which covers only the demolition not the future development.

This will require prior approval from planning committee and this should be determined at the March 13 planning committee meeting.

The owner is required to display the prior notice of demolition at the site before this decision takes place.

In a letter to the Derbyshire Times, resident Lesley Matthews, of Cobden Road, Chesterfield, wrote: “We are appalled to see a demolition notice suddenly posted on the The Shrubberies, 46 Newbold Road, just weeks after the council refused planning permission for the proposed development of the site.

“I would like to urge those who are concerned for keeping Chesterfield a pleasant place to live and value the nature of this historic town to write urgently to the planning committee at the Town Hall, Chesterfield.”

The building was built in 1876 and used as a nurses home in the 20th century.

It is currently derelict and was last used as an office building for the NHS Primary Care Trust.

Anyone who wishes to make representations about the demolition should do so before Friday.

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