RESIDENTS of a sheltered housing scheme in Colwall have been told that the housing provider intends to knock it down and rebuild it.

Malvern-based Fortis Living wants to redevelop Chevenham Close off the B4218 Walwyn Road, the main road through the village.

The close is a development of bungalows and bedsits, which the company says are 40 years old, dated, and include a number of bedsits which are difficult to let and can often be empty for long periods of time.

There are currently a significant number of empty properties at the scheme, says Fortis.

The company says it will offer residents financial compensation and help in finding alternative accommodation while Chevenham is rebuilt.

The residents of Chevenham were told about the plans at individual meetings organised by Fortis Living and the general response was positive.

The idea is still in the very early stages of the design process and an application for planning won’t be submitted until later this year.

If it is approved, the company expects to see the new scheme completed in winter 2019 to spring 2020.

Catherine Cole, assistant director of housing and communities at Fortis said: “Our residents are at the heart of everything we do, so we wanted to let people living in the Chevenham Close scheme know what’s happening as soon as possible.

“We arranged to talk to all residents on a one to one basis, followed by a drop-in information session and they will have our full support throughout this process which includes financial compensation and help to relocate to suitable accommodation.

“Our plan is to modernise what is available here which will benefit the wider community and provide more affordable new homes.”