Churchill Retirement Living has been granted planning permission to build 75 brand new independent living retirement apartments in Gravesend, with Councillors voting unanimously to approve the plans at a meeting on Wednesday 28th September. Regenerating the former police station on Windmill Street, the new development will bring a thriving new community to the heart of Gravesend, contributing over £580,000 a year of extra spending to the local high street and supporting around 150 jobs both during and after construction.
The new development will provide attractive, high quality, secure and self-contained accommodation in landscaped grounds. As with all Churchill Retirement Living developments, Owners will enjoy independent living and a sense of community, with a communal Owners’ Lounge, a Guest Suite, a Lodge Manager, and a 24 hour emergency call alarm service.
A spokesperson for Churchill said: “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 in the heart of Gravesend. Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, supporting local jobs, and increasing high street spend. The new apartments will also help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there, and meet the housing needs of many older people in Gravesend and the surrounding area.”
The new development will meet existing and future need in the local area and will provide these key benefits:
- Benefits the local high street by around £580,000 per year as its central location encourages residents to shop locally.
- Supports around 150 local jobs both during and after construction.
- Allows older people to downsize and free up under occupied houses in the local area for families – we estimate around 150 second hand homes will be released onto the market, helping around 50 first time buyers onto the ladder.
- Each person living in a retirement property typically experiences reduced health risks, contributing to fiscal savings to local NHS and social care services of c.£3,500 per person per year. The development in Gravesend will therefore create total health and social care savings of over £340,000 per year.
- Provides older people with safety, security and companionship.
- Provides an attractive, bespoke building which complements the existing streetscape.
- Reduces the need to travel by car, due to proximity to local facilities.