Browning Court

Browning Court is a modern sheltered housing complex for the elderly, planned for Bourne in the summer of 2005 and sited on 1.3 acres of land in Manning Road used as a depot by Johnson Brothers Limited who had been there since 1965 retailing and servicing a wide variety of farm machinery ranging from tractors to lawn mowers and employing 13 people.

The scheme was devised by Retirement Security Limited who planned to clear the land and build a three-storey complex of 43 two-bedroom apartments with live-in care staff, a restaurant and formal gardens. The accommodation was designed specifically for older people, mainly over 75 who may be frail or suffering from long-term or limiting illness, to maintain their independence in a supported environment. Residents would be able to lease their apartments and an allocation would be set aside for council tenants.

A public meeting was called for Friday 22nd July 2005 to enable the developers explain their proposals on behalf of Very Sheltered Housing, the organisation which will manage the project and was passed by Bourne Town Council despite fears of traffic congestion in Manning Road and nearby streets but Bob Bessell, director of Retirement Security Limited, said: "These problems have been largely resolved. There are still access issues to resolve but we will see less heavy duty traffic visiting the site than was previously the case although I agree that a one-way system is needed."

Planning permission was subsequently granted by South Kesteven District Council in September and the work was completed early in 2008 when the first residents moved in. The complex has been called Browning Court after Bryan Browning (1773-1856), the architect of Bourne Town Hall.

Unfortunately, there were many complaints from people living in the vicinity, notably in Hereward Street, that the three-storey development was intrusive and an invasion of their privacy because the windows directly overlooked their properties. The development company has now agreed to plant trees to hide the view.

REVISED APRIL 2009

See also   Johnson Brothers Ltd