Churchill has been granted planning permission to build 47 brand new independent living retirement apartments in Wells, regenerating the former Police Station site on Glastonbury Road. The new development will bring a thriving new community to the heart of Wells, contributing over £365,000 per year of extra spending to the local high street and supporting around 90 jobs both during and after construction.
As with all Churchill Retirement Living developments, the new apartments will provide attractive, high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds. When completed, those who choose to live there will enjoy independent living and a sense of community, with a communal Owners’ Lounge, a Guest Suite, a Lodge Manager, and a 24 hour emergency call alarm service.
Stuart Goodwill, Managing Director of Churchill’s in-house planning consultancy, said: “After a long and difficult planning process, due to the issues of Phosphate neutrality, this is a very positive result and we will now look forward to starting work as soon as possible on this new development which will create a vibrant new community for older people in the heart of Wells. Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, supporting local jobs, and increasing high street spend. The new apartments will also help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Wells and the surrounding area. We are currently on the lookout for further suitable sites like this across Somerset and the wider South West region to bring forward more much needed specialist housing for older people.”
The new development will meet existing and future need in the local area and will provide these key benefits:
- Benefits the local high street by around £365,000 per year as its central location encourages residents to shop locally.
- Supports around 90 local jobs both during and after construction.
- Allows older people to downsize and free up under occupied houses in the local area for families – we estimate around 94 second hand homes will be released onto the market, helping around 31 first time buyers onto the ladder.
- Each person living in a retirement property typically experiences reduced health risks, contributing to fiscal savings to local NHS and social care services of c.£3,500 per person per year. The development in Wells will therefore create total health and social care savings of over £213,000 per year.
- Provides older people with safety, security and companionship.
- Provides an attractive, bespoke building which complements the existing streetscape.
- Reduces the need to travel by car, due to proximity to local facilities.