ALMSHOUSES in Andover are undergoing renovations nearly three years after the last resident departed.

The Acre Almshouses in Adelaide Road are being brought up to the standard which is suitable for people to live in after plans to replace the building with a flat complex were rejected.

In 2012, Andover Charity Trustees, which operates the almshouses, had proposed plans to demolish the current four-home building and replace it with a new complex that would treble the number of available flats.

But these plans were scrapped in 2019 when Test Valley Borough Council rejected the application, despite the site being in very poor condition.

READ MORE: Almshouses rescued after U-turn on demolition plans

Now, the Andover Charity Trustees has begun the renovation of the Victorian-times building, which has “consistently been a very damp property”.

Andover Charity Trustees chairman Cllr Nick Lodge said the building is very old and the building fell into such disrepair that the charity could no longer allow people to live there.

“It took a lot of work to establish the things that needed to be done. It's a very substantial renovation for the building. And then we had trouble finding builders during the pandemic. So it's been a long time, but work has begun now.

“DH Property is doing the work for us and it will be a complete refurbishment. Even the walls, the ceilings and the floors are going to be restructured inside and we're aiming to have it finished by about July.

“The four flats, which would suit one or two persons, will be ready by then and we'll be letting them as almshouses as soon as we possibly can.”

SEE ALSO: Andover History: Almshouses on the Acre

The councillor said the charity had to wait until the last person had left to begin the renovations. But during the pandemic years, the trust found it hard to get builders.

“It was a much longer period than we'd really expected but we're pleased to be doing the work now. By about July we hope to be advertising for new residents.”

Andover Charity Trustees is an independent charity that has 19 almshouses in Andover.

Besides the four in Adelaide Road, the charity has another 14 almshouses in Borsberry Close.