Churchill Retirement Living has won a planning appeal to build new retirement apartments in Great Tattenhams.

The privately-owned apartments will provide ‘attractive, high quality, secure, self-contained accommodation’ in landscaped grounds.

Owners will be able to benefit from a communal lounge, guest suite, lodge manager and a 24-hour emergency call alarm service.

Andrew Burgess, Group Land & Planning Director of Churchill Retirement Living, said: “Although it took longer than we had hoped to arrive at this point, and the delay has been costly to us, I am delighted to reach this very positive outcome, and I would like to thank everyone who has helped towards achieving it.

“There is a compelling overall housing need in the area, especially for older people, and we believe this decision is good news for local people. The site is situated on previously developed land and is a highly sustainable and accessible location for a new development of this kind.

“Allowing older people to downsize will also help free up more homes for families and younger people in the local area.”

With less to worry about, owners will have more time to do the things they enjoy, such as having family or friends to stay in the development’s well-appointed Guest Suite, enjoying a chat with neighbours, or attending one of the regular social events in the owners’ lounge.

Delivery of 34 retirement apartments will meet existing and future need in the area and will provide these key benefits:

• Provides older people with safety, security and companionship

• Benefits the ‘basket shopping economy’ as its central location encourages residents to shop locally

• Provides an attractive, bespoke building which complements the existing streetscape

• Creates efficiencies by allowing Health and Social Services practitioners to visit several residents at once.

• Reduces the need to travel by car, due to proximity to local facilities