The wait over the future of 'one of Nottinghamshire's most precious buildings' has continued as the local council faces legal proceedings. The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has taken legal action against Broxtowe Borough Council after it gave permission to create homes at the rear of the Grade II* Willoughby Almshouses in Cossall.
The Almshouses were built in 1685 thanks to notable local resident George Willoughby, of Wollaton Hall, who stipulated they should house four men and four women of the ‘deserving poor’, but have become disused and increasingly dilapidated. Both planning permission and listed building consent was granted by Broxtowe Borough Council to turn the building into four residential properties, after the Planning Inspectorate decided not to intervene despite objections from Historic England, which argued there was no clear justification for what it saw as a "high level of harm".
But SPAB, which objects to the project as it believes the "internal demolition work and rear extensions" would damage the historic value of the building, then took legal action against Broxtowe Borough Council as it had not been consulted on the plans. The society has challenged the council with a Judicial Review of the decision to grant listed building consent, which is being carried out by the High Court.
