Chester retirement home given go-ahead 

McCarthy Stone has secured planning consent to build a 56-apartment complex close to the Shot Tower, a scheme that the developer said goes some way to meeting a “critical need” for this type of accommodation. 

The developer plans to redevelop a half-acre surface car park off Charterhill Drive, providing a mix of one- and two-bedroom homes for older people. 

Ian Wilkins, divisional managing director at McCarthy Stone North, said: “Our exciting plans for Chester will help to address a critical need for retirement accommodation in the area, providing housing choice for local older people, whilst also freeing up the wider housing market for local families and first-time buyers further down the chain. 

“Residents typically use shops and services on their doorstep and, as such, this development will provide a vital boost to businesses in Chester city centre, helping to support local shops and cafes.” 

Approval for the scheme was given by Cheshire West and Chester Council under delegated powers. 

McCarthy Stone’s proposals include 36 car parking spaces for residents, staff, and visitors. This would include disabled and allocated visitor spaces. 

Communal facilities would include a residents’ lounge, guest suite, internal refuse store, and mobility scooter storage with charging points. 

Lift access would be provided for each floor of the six-storey building. 

A 24-hour emergency call service would also be available for residents. 

The Planning Bureau is the planning consultant for the scheme. Box Architects is the project’s architect, and TPM Landscape is the landscape architect. 

The estimated construction cost for the redevelopment is more than £10m.