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More than 24 flats for some of the city’s poorest people will be built at a spot where a medieval building is crumbling away.

Gloucester City Homes (GCH) will be working with Cape Homes Ltd to build 24 affordable flats on the corner of Hare Lane and Gouda Way.

The homes will be on the site of Tanners Hall, a Grade-II listed building which has stood in that spot since the middle ages but been turning into ruins for decades.

Thousands of motorists drive past the site every day, which backs on to mechanics NGN Motors which has closed after Gloucester City Council approved planning permission.

Hundreds of people signed a petition against the development.

Two Gloucester City Councillors representing the area were opposed to the development with Pam Tracey (C, Westgate) “calling in” the proposal to the planning committee.

Fellow ward councillor Dawn Melvin (C, Westgate) said she was “absolutely appalled” by the application and said that she felt money should have been spent on restoring the Tanners Hall.

“It’s deeply disappointing that money hasn’t been spent into making that building look good. Something should be done with it, it’s an absolute botch up.”

Gloucester City Council’s conservation officer said “the proposed works to Tanners Hall, the designated asset are considered acceptable”.

The city archaeologist, Andrew Armstrong, has also said there is “no objection” to the plans.

But the issue of parking in the city centre was one of the reasons why people are objecting.

Rooftop Housing are building 95 affordable flats opposite at Black Dog Way and more homes at the former KCs nightclub were given permission by Gloucester City Council earlier this year.

Previously, Mrs Melvin said: “It’s just not a suitable site. It’s going to be parking bedlam in that area.

“The original proposals for the Rooftop Housing, we all accepted the fact that it would be a lot of houses and not a lot of parking. It’s going to make it even worse [in that area] with more flats. It’s just completely mad.”

But GCH said the city centre flats will provide “a mixture of one and two bed homes through much needed affordable rent”.

Work is starting now and due to be completed by the autumn of next year.

A spokesman for GCH said the site has “often been referred to as an ‘eyesore’”.

They added the flats will incorporate the ruins into the front entrance lobby, which will include the original stone wall structures.

(Image: Gloucester City Homes)

The development will be of a high quality and the developer will work with conservation, planning and English Heritage Officers to ensure that the historic integrity of this site is maintained as much as possible.

Robert Panou, head of development at GCH, said:“This is great news for local residents as the flats will provide high-quality, affordable housing which our city is in such desperate need of.

“I have lived in Gloucester all my life and can always remember the ruins wrapped in rusty scaffolding. I am proud to be involved in their restoration.”

Mark Holland, managing director of Cape Homes, added: “Cape Homes are pleased and proud to be working alongside Gloucester City Homes on such an important, prominent and prestigious project within the City Centre, providing homes for the future.”

GCH have ambitious plans to deliver new affordable housing in and around Gloucester.

Since 2015 they have delivered 152 homes, with work underway to bring 112 homes, and plans for a further 344.