McCarthy and Stone, the UK’s leading retirement house builder, has recently acquired an interest in the land at the former Chas Lowe & Sons, London Road in Knebworth. It is now in the early stages of discussions with North Hertfordshire District Council about redeveloping the site with Assisted Living (Extra Care) accommodation.
McCarthy and Stone is committed to engaging with the local community and has offered the site’s immediate neighbours and stakeholders an early opportunity to meet with the project team to discuss the initial plans for the site. Where possible, the views of the local community will be incorporated into the final scheme.
The site, which is currently a building material supplier, is situated on London Road, close to McCarthy and Stone’s Retirement Living accommodation at Constance Place, which received planning permission in 2014. The Chas Lowe & Sons site is near all local amenities including local shops, coffee shops and the train station. In addition, Knebworth is renowned for its picturesque features and traditional architecture, making the site an ideal location for new Assisted Living (Extra Care) accommodation that fits in with the existing characteristics of the area.
Ali Maruf, Regional Managing Director for McCarthy and Stone (North London Region) said:
“This is a great opportunity to obtain early feedback on our scheme so we can ensure it will complement the residential character of London Road. Our proposals will deliver a high-quality, attractive development that can improve the existing site, whilst diversifying local housing choice in the area.”
Assisted Living (Extra Care) apartments are aimed at retired people without significant care needs and offer the independence of retaining home ownership while living in an apartment specifically designed for later life. These developments include a club lounge, a House Manager, guest accommodation and a secure entry system. These apartments enable older people to remain living in the community and out of state care whilst enjoying peace of mind that support is available on-site 24 hours a day.
Following the upcoming meetings, a public exhibition will be held for the wider community to view the scheme and provide their views. Details of this will be made available in the coming weeks.
For more information, call the project’s Freephone information line on 0800 298 7040.