Nearly 40 new retirement flats will be built on the site of an old nursing home in a Merseyside coastal town.
Churchill Retirement Living was granted planning permission by Wirral Council with permission to build the flats on Grange Road in West Kirby within the next three years.
It will be built on the site of the former Brookfield Nursing Home just outside the town’s centre which was demolished in 2020.
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Developers say the proposed homes will support around 70 jobs both during and after construction as well as over £295,000 of extra high street funding.
There were two letters of support, no one objecting and no comments by local councillors which meant it did not need to go to the council’s planning committee. Comments were made on the potential impact on pedestrian access near Brookfield Gardens as well as parking.
A council report said: “The scheme as a whole provides a well thought out retirement living space which complements the character of the immediate and surrounding area, the scale of the development does not cause harm to residential amenity.”
The new apartments are described as “attractive, high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds” and “those who choose to live there will enjoy independent living and a sense of community.”
There will also be a communal lounge, a guest suite, lodge manager and a 24 hour emergency call alarm. Developers argue the apartments will also reduce health risks and could save local health and social care services around £3,500 a year.
No affordable housing will be provided in the new building itself but £200,000 has been agreed with the council to build houses in other parts of the Wirral where housing need is higher.
Adam Mooij, Managing Director of Churchill’s Northern Region, said: ”The new apartments will help improve the health and well-being of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in West Kirby and the surrounding area.
“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 West Kirby.”
Mr Mooij said Churchill was currently looking at similar sites across the region to create more specialist housing for the elderly.
The approval came with some conditions including that the development is not occupied until car parking is provided including three disabled spaces with the parking plan approved by the council. The proposal also included electric charging points and a bike store.
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