The accommodation in the almost 400 year old Countess of Derby Almshouses and the fabric of the building badly needs upgrading and restoration. The Trustees therefore propose to convert the four existing bed sitting rooms with their own kitchens and shared bathrooms into two modern and self-contained one-bedroom flats and renovate the building.

These plans show the Almshouses are they are at present, the conversion in the 1950s, and the proposed layout for the two modern one-bedroom flats.

Plan - 1950s conversion      Proposed 2003 conversion. Click an image for an enlargement

As the cost of this work cannot be met from Charities' funds the Trustees have applied to the Housing Corporation for a grant, which would cover about half the cost. Qualification for a Housing Corporation grant required registration as a registered social landlord, a status which necessitates a high standard of administration and management. On the 24 November 2002 the Charities’ application was approved so grant funding will now flow. With an interest-free loan from The Almshouse Association, a grant from The Manifold Trust and other funding in place, work on site will start in about May 2003.

In the meantime planning permission for the conversion of the Almshouses and for vehicle access to the site for the first time ever has been obtained.

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