Plans for Wellingborough retirement village backed by community

A bid to build a retirement village with 45 apartments in Wellingborough has received backing from the local community.
How the apartments may look.How the apartments may look.
How the apartments may look.

McCarthy and Stone submitted plans to Wellingborough Council for the redevelopment of the former Geo J Cox Factory in Westfield Road in June.

The application has since received 11 supportive comments, two neutral comments and no objections, with a final decision on the plans expected next month.

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McCarthy and Stone’s proposals seek to redevelop the brownfield site to meet the growing demand of housing for the older generation in the area.

The local over-65s population is predicted to grow by 70 per cent over the next 20 years.

Mark Wright, regional managing director at McCarthy and Stone, said: “We are encouraged to see that our plans have received support from local people.

“At present this brownfield site is under-utilised and untidy.

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“We believe the high quality scheme we have created for its regeneration is sympathetic to the site’s heritage while making a positive contribution to the immediate area.

“It is important that a community meets the housing needs of all its residents.

“This development would help meet a local, and growing, housing need in the area.

“Increasing the housing choice for residents in later life also releases family-sized housing back into local markets, which helps to stimulate the housing chain and enable young families and first time buyers to have a better opportunity within the housing market.”

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Prior to the submission of its planning application, McCarthy and Stone consulted the local community and elected representatives, hosting a public exhibition in March.

Eighty-five per cent of the feedback received from the local community expressed support for the proposals, with a large number of respondents commenting that the regeneration of this derelict site would enhance the local area.

It also found that the development of the site would provide a boost for the town’s retailers.