McCarthy Stone eyes up 52 Prestwich retirement apartments

The project would see the demolition of the existing Fairways Lodge and Leisure Centre off George Street.

McCarthy Stone would replace the Prestwich hotel with 52 retirement flats. These would comprise 30 one-bedroom apartments and 22 two-bedroom ones.

A car park with 38 spaces and communal facilities, including gardens and a residents lounge, are also outlined in the application.

The site would be well serviced by public transport, as it is situated off Bury New Road and a mile away from the nearest Metrolink station.

There are currently 119 comments on the application, with 117 objecting to the proposal – while the other two are erroneously labelled as supporting it.

Most of the objections stem from the loss of the hotel and leisure centre. However, Fairways Lodge’s lease on the property expired in March 2023, according to a financial viability statement by Fisher German.

A spokesperson from McCarthy Stone said: “McCarthy Stone has exchanged contracts to purchase the site of the Fairways Lodge Hotel, Prestwich, subject to the approval of planning permission for the redevelopment of the site with retirement living apartments…

“We believe that our development will deliver a range of benefits to Prestwich including freeing up larger family homes in the local housing market via those downsizing to our development, leading to increased spending in the local economy of approximately £635,000 per annum and saving local health and social care services more than £230,000 each year through the provision of lower-risk, specially adapted homes.”

Economics consultancy Three Dragons noted in an assessment that the site was well suited for retirement living. The company wrote: “The proposed development at the site at Fairways Lodge Prestwich will provide accommodation which is better suited to the needs of older people and can assist Bury Council in delivering its priorities as well as meeting identified demand.”

As well as Three Dragons, the project team is comprised of planner PLB, arboricultural assessor Mulberry, drainage strategist LDE, energy and sustainability consultant Focus, flood risk assessor Lees Roxburgh, waste manager Kenny, and Transport Planning.

If you would like to find out more about this planning project, search the application reference number 70484 on Bury Council’s planning portal.

McCarthy Stone is no stranger to Prestwich, having developed Broadfield Court, another retirement living complex on Park View Road, north of the proposed Fairways Lodge scheme.