After a successful planning appeal, Churchill Retirement Living has been granted planning permission to build 39 brand new independent living retirement apartments in Handforth. Regenerating the former Cypress House nursing home on South Acre Drive, which has been vacant since 2006, the new development will bring a thriving new community to the heart of town, contributing over £300k a year to the local economy and supporting around 78 jobs both during and after construction.
In the appeal decision notice, the Government’s Planning Inspector Stephen Wilkinson concluded that the proposed development “would not cause harm to the character and appearance of the area”, and stated that in reaching his decision he placed “significant weight on the provision of older persons accommodation given the extent of demand for this type of use in the Council area, which is higher than the national average.”
The new development will provide attractive, high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds. As with all Churchill Retirement Living developments, Owners 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 planning consultancy, said: “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 in the heart of Handforth. 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 Handforth and the surrounding area.”
The new development will meet existing and future need in the local area and will provide these key benefits:
- Benefits the local economy by around £300,000 per year as its central location encourages residents to shop locally.
- Supports around 78 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 78 second hand homes will be released onto the market, helping around 26 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 Handforth will therefore create total health and social care savings of over £177,000 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.