Plans submitted for Wickford retirement village

A DEVELOPER has put forward plans for a retirement village just south of Wickford.

Great Broomfield Developments, a subsidiary of Marden Homes, has submitted proposals to build a 70-bed care home, 30 retirement apartments and bungalows on green belt land in Great Broomfields, Cranfield Park Road.

The proposals will see the demolition of the existing buildings, a barn and former stables, on the site to make way for the new four-acre “high-end Integrated Retirement Community”.

The homes will be “assisted living” with residential apartments and cottages to be sold or rented, with residents having access to onsite facilities and services, including domiciliary care.

Occupation will be restricted to residents of 55 and above years of age, although the firm  anticipates that most will be 75 or older.

Domiciliary care is to be available 24/7 onsite, with residents purchasing as much as they require on a flexible basis, planning documents state.

The care home is to be provided towards the south of the site and will be L-shaped and three-storeys tall.

The care home will accommodate 70 beds, five day lounges, five quiet lounges, a café, a games room, a tea room, a beauty salon, a drawing room, a study area, and a library.

Great Broomfield Developments  claims there is a lack of care homes and retirement housing in the borough.

“Basildon is forecast to have a 22 per cent increase in population aged over 65 between 2014 and 2025 and the borough has the second largest number of people aged over 65 with care needs in comparison to all other Essex Authorities,” planning documents state.

“The latest 2021 census data for Basildon shows that compared to 2011 data there has been a 14.4 per cent increase in people aged 65 years and over.”

Six car parking spaces are proposed for the retirement bungalows, 30 car parking spaces for the apartments, with one for disabled use, and a further 27 car parking spaces are proposed for the care home, two which will be disabled.