Retirement village specialist gets green light for Wiltshire project
Retirement Villages Group’s plans to invest in new sustainable homes at its Avonpark community in Wiltshire have been given the green light.
Wiltshire Council has voted to approve a planning application for the community near Winsley – unlocking delivery of new retirement homes, community facilities and measures to make the site more sustainable.
The work at Avonpark will see redundant care home buildings taken down and replaced with 74 new retirement apartments, all set within the leafy 15-acre site.
As well as new homes, the improvements will also deliver a step-change in community facilities, with the creation of a shop, restaurant, bar, flexible craft room, library and salon, as well as extensive gardens, including allotments and croquet lawn.
It’s part of RVG’s commitment to community, choice and wellbeing.
The specialist company is investing heavily in integrated retirement communities nationwide, with plans to deliver 5,000 new homes across 40 communities by 2030. As well as investment in existing sites like Avonpark, new build projects as part of its Thrive Collection are also underway in West Byfleet, Tunbridge Wells and Chester.
Jack Stirling, development manager at Retirement Villages Group, said: “This approval is a landmark moment for Avonpark and its future as a thriving retirement community, with wellbeing at its heart. Our plans will create high-quality apartments, deliver an excellent range of community facilities and make the site more sustainable for decades to come.
“We’d like to thank both Wiltshire Council for supporting our vision and Avonpark residents, who have worked closely with us as the plans evolved.
“We’re committed to investing in our existing portfolio of communities, alongside delivering new retirement communities across the country. From the communal facilities to the stunning gardens and grounds, all of our improvements are aimed at supporting residents to stay active and independent for longer, with the support of a genuine community.”
A major driver for the planned investment is not only to futureproof the Avonpark community, with a focus on wellbeing and choice in older age, but increase the site’s sustainability credentials. The approved upgrades include installation of over 150 solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and new wildlife habitats, the latter boosting biodiversity on site by over 30%.
RVG has been liaising with residents about investing in the community over the past two years as the plans evolved. The detailed application outlines how the plans are expected to deliver wider benefits for Wiltshire including 76 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs during construction and 23 FTE jobs on completion; a £6.8 million economic boost during construction for the local economy; and £175,000 in council tax each year.
Work is expected to start at the community in late 2024.
