Waterfront site earmarked for elderly residential complex (From This is The West Country)

Waterfront site earmarked for elderly residential complex

5:00pm Thursday 7th March 2013 in Devon By Mid Devon Star Reporter

PLANS to develop 45 homes for older people on the waterfront site in Tiverton have been submitted.

McCarthy & Stone hopes to build one- and two-bedroom homes, apartments, communal facilities and landscaped gardens on land behind Tiverton Town Hall on St Andrew Street.

Mid Devon District Council’s is proposing to demolish properties 1 and 2 on St Andrews Street and refurbish house numbers 3-10 on the road to provide access to the development.

Shane Paull, from McCarthy & Stone, said: “We are encouraged by the level of support we have received for our proposals and have now submitted a planning application to Mid Devon District Council.

“It is important that a community meets the housing needs of all its residents and this development would help meet a local, and growing, housing need in the area.”

The developers say that 15,900 residents in Mid Devon are currently aged over 65, with the expected population in that age group set to increase to 27,000 by 2035.

Mr Paull added: “Introducing this form of housing to an area has benefits for the wider community as well.

“On average each development represents an investment of around £5million into the local economy and on moving, residents in later life tend to release family-sized housing, which helps to stimulate the housing chain and enable young families and first-time buyers to have a better opportunity within the housing market.”

The site had received planning permission in 2008 for new homes but they became unviable under another developer.

A public exhibition has taken place but more information about the proposals is available from the developers on 0800-2987040.