Chiltern District Council has given McCarthy and Stone, the UK’s leading retirement housebuilder, planning permission (subject to a legal agreement and conditions) to redevelop part of the former Holy Cross Convent site in Chalfont St Peter with 38 Assisted Living (Extra Care) apartments.
The scheme will help to meet a specific local need for older people’s accommodation in Chalfont St Peter, and provide a positive contribution to the community by increasing local housing choice for older people.
Ali Maruf, Regional Managing Director (North London), said:
“We are delighted that Chiltern District Council has approved our application in Chalfont St Peter. We believe that there is a real need for this type of accommodation in the village. The Chiltern District population of over 65s is set to increase by over 40% between 2008 and 2026 from 16,100 to 23,406 and it is clear that more retirement accommodation is needed to meet this growing need.
“Our new development in Chalfont St Peter will address a recognised shortfall, whilst providing a high quality development to enhance the local area. In addition, occupants typically looking to ease the burden of maintaining a large property would allow these homes to become available on the market.”
The part of the site McCarthy and Stone will develop first received detailed planning consent for a 74 bedroom care home, gained by Persimmon Homes in 2013 as part of a wider planning application which includes 198 homes. McCarthy and Stone’s proposals for the site are similar to the initially approved scheme, but will deliver the benefits of Extra Care accommodation rather than the traditional care home model.
The proposals are subject to McCarthy and Stone signing a legal requirement that the development remains within the development use class C2, a community facility which includes care homes and privately owned Extra Care accommodation. Local planning policy also encourages the provision of Extra Care accommodation to meet the needs of the local older population. McCarthy and Stone believes this proposal helps to meet the needs of local older people, as the average age of residents moving into their Assisted Living (Extra Care) apartments is 83, with the majority of homeowners coming from within 1-5 miles of their existing homes. This also has the benefit of helping elderly residents to stay within their community.
In addition, the use of this brownfield site will reduce the need to build on local Green Belt land, as well as meeting the aspirations of the emerging Chiltern District Local Plan review.
It was important to McCarthy and Stone that the proposals were shaped by the community and their feedback. To achieve this, a public exhibition for the local community was held to enable residents to discuss the proposals with the project team and submit their feedback. Following this period of public consultation, the Council approved the redevelopment of the site in Chalfont St Peter with specialist Assisted Living (Extra Care) apartments.
McCarthy and Stone believes that the plans represent the best future for the site, providing a sympathetic development which will positively contribute to the area.
The new development will enable homeowners to live independently in their own home with flexible care and support available on-site 24 hours a day. There is also a wellness suite, function room, and a restaurant service where meals can be prepared all year round.
Professional landscaping will be provided across the site, as well as 24 off-street car parking spaces for homeowners and visitors.
It is possible for residents who are interested in potentially purchasing one of the new apartments to register their early sales interest by visiting www.mccarthyandstone.co.uk