Tiverton to (maybe) get over 40 retirement homes (From This is The West Country)

Tiverton to (maybe) get over 40 retirement homes

5:27pm Monday 17th September 2012 in Devon

DOZENS of retirement homes could soon be built in Tiverton .

Mid Devon District Council has agreed to sell a neglected plot of land at the back of the town hall to McCarthy & Stone, which plans to build 45 retirement properties on the site.

Contracts have been exchanged for the conditional sale of the site on land the council has held for about 40 years.

The sale is conditional on the council granting planning permission and ‘other matters’, a council spokesman said.

The sale price will depend on factors determined ‘during the planning and construction phase’.

The council will retain ownership of properties on St Andrews Street, excluding numbers 1 and 2, which will be demolished so the development site can be reached. The housing service will take ownership of the properties and it is planned to bring them back into use as ten two-bedroom homes.

Cabinet member for housing Cllr Ray Stanley said: “There have been various proposals over the years to bring this prime site into use and we are very pleased to have signed contracts with McCarthy & Stone.

“The long overdue refurbishment of the properties in St Andrews Street will provide housing at social rents for some on our housing list.”

A spokesman for McCarthy & Stone said: “The company is delighted with the opportunity and is looking forward to working with the council to provide a scheme the people of Tiverton will be proud of.”