Retirement home scheme in village near Market Drayton set to be approved

Developer McCarthy & Stone aims to build the homes off Audlem Road, Audlem, near Market Drayton.

It is hoped to build a mixture of one and two bedroom apartments, specifically designed to meet the needs of people in later life.

The scheme, which has been recommended for approval by planning officers, will be discussed by Cheshire East Council's planning committee at a meeting on Wednesday.

A consultation event was held earlier this year where local residents said that the building was needed but that it was too far from amenities.

Many residents also raised concerns over parking levels and as a result, McCarthy & Stone has increased the parking from 20 to 25 spaces.

Audlem Parish Council has also raised concerns about the plan due to the distance to the village centre shops.

Councillors said although the parking allocation has been increased to one per property, in practice most such households would have two cars. And they said there were concerns about the lack of consideration given to the effect on medical services.

A report prepared by Cheshire East Council ahead of next week's meeting states: "Bearing in mind the special type of housing which McCarthy & Stone are providing and given the advantages of the scheme at going some way to meet the acknowledged national and local shortage of this type of housing this shortfall is not considered to be significant in the overall planning balance.

"The development would provide benefits in terms of meeting an acknowledged national and local shortage of housing for the elderly and economic benefits through the usual economic benefits during contraction and through the spending of future occupiers.

"The development would have a neutral impact upon protected species/ecology, flooding, living conditions, landscape, trees, design and contaminated land."

Speaking earlier this year, Ian Wilkins, regional managing director at McCarthy & Stone, said: “We are pleased with the final plans and additional car parking which has been provided.

“There is a real need for this type of accommodation in the local area and we believe that this scheme will create an opportunity to provide specialised housing, allowing older persons to downsize and remain near friends and family.”

The planning committee will meet in the Council Chamber in Crewe from 10am.