'I was enjoying life, now I may have to leave home'

Jim Tennant felt like he was "settling down" and able to "enjoy life" in his independent living complex.

But after six years, he is now one of a number of residents who face having to leave Sketchley Court in Bulwell, Nottingham, after the city council proposed turning it into accommodation for homeless families.

Mr Tennant said: "They say they’re giving me a choice, well I don’t want a choice, I’m happy where I am."

A Nottingham City Council spokersperson told the BBC no decision had yet been taken, but that residents would get “wrap-around support” in finding a new home if it went ahead.

Nottingham City Council first told residents about the consultation to repurpose the site by post.

The authority said residents would have the choice to stay, but on the “understanding” they would lose shared amenities, and that the site’s wider purpose would be homeless accommodation.

Independent living communities are individual homes, typically clustered in a court, that have communal facilities and a dedicated member of staff to support residents.

Mr Tennant was moved into Sketchley Court after previously living in a flat affected by mould, and was told it would be a place he could “get [his] life back together”.

Mr Tennant said whilst living at Sketchley Court he had overcome an addiction to alcohol.

He added: “I thought I was settling down now and could enjoy life, I’ve got a nice home here, and they want you to start again. I don’t know many people that want to start again at nearly 70.”

“I don’t understand vacating the building, to put somebody in, and then I go into an empty building,” he said.

Sketchley Court is comprised of 27 flats, of which five are empty, according to the local authority, which is why it was chosen for the plan.

This is the “highest number of empty homes” out of three independent living communities in Snapewood, according to the letter sent to residents.

However, Eleanor Charles, speaking on behalf of numerous residents upset over the plan, said it wasn’t their fault.

Despite only being at the consultation stage, Ms Charles said people had been losing sleep over the uncertainty.

“There were tears [at a meeting with the council], there was anger and frustration - we shouldn’t be putting older people through that. Those letters should have never gone out.”

Ms Charles also expressed confusion at "families" being moved into the site, as it is made up of one-bedroom flats.

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said if the scheme went ahead, it would provide “financial compensation in the region of” £8,000 to residents who agreed to move.

It would also help with packing and moving personal belongings.

The authority said it was “considering all alternatives” in providing accommodation for the homeless.

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