Plans for new retirement properties in Harleston go on display to local residents

Earlier this week McCarthy and Stone – the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities – showcased its plans to build new retirement housing in Harleston at a public exhibition for local people.

The exhibition was an opportunity for the local community to view and comment on McCarthy and Stone’s proposals to redevelop land off Mendham Lane with older people’s accommodation before a planning application is submitted to South Norfolk Council in the coming weeks.

Around 2,000 households were invited to attend the event, which took place Wednesday 24th July 2019 between 3pm and 7pm at the Harleston Community Leisure Facility. Neighbours of the site and local stakeholders were also offered one-to-one meetings to discuss the proposals.

Around 82 local residents visited the four-hour exhibition and McCarthy & Stone has said that its plans were well-received by those at the event, with many citing a need for retirement accommodation in Harleston and praising the mix of accommodation proposed.

The plans would see the circa one-acre site – which was formerly occupied by the Apollo Club – redeveloped with a mix of Retirement Living accommodation exclusively for the over-60s, including 40 apartments, four bungalows and two coach houses.

The day-to-day running of the development would be overseen by a House Manager and the scheme would include on-site car parking and a range of communal facilities, including a homeowners’ lounge and landscaped gardens.

There would be a single access point for cars and pedestrians opposite Briar Road, while the existing secondary access on the western part of the site would be stopped-up to avoid any undue impact on neighbours of the site.

Matt Wills, Regional Managing Director of McCarthy and Stone, said:

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to attend our public exhibition and provide feedback on our proposals.

We were encouraged by the positive response to our proposals. We will carefully review all of the feedback received before submitting an application to South Norfolk Council in the coming months.

“There is a national and local shortfall of older persons’ housing. The Office for National Statistics, for example, has predicted that the over 65s population in the district will rise by 43% over the next 20 years.

“Many of those we spoke at our exhibition indicated they would like to downsize to a property more suited to their needs, while remaining close to friends and family.

“Our proposals would help improve the housing options for older people which, in turn, can help stimulate the housing chain by releasing existing homes back into the market for younger buyers.”