Retirement village gets the green light in Sutton Coldfield

A partnership has received planning permission to redevelop the former Royal Works in Sutton Coldfield into a retirement community.

Anchor and McCarthy Stone are set to develop eight retirement villages across the UK, which will offer more than 1,000 multi tenure retirement properties with a GDV of £250m.

In Sutton Coldfield, 137 one and two-bedroom apartments will be created with customers able to choose from a range of tenures to help meet different affordability levels among older people.

85 of the apartments will be provided for shared ownership or social rent.

Customers will also be able to tailor the level of care they require to suit their personal circumstances and needs.

The development will consist of two buildings, with shared facilities and landscaped gardens accessible for residents of both buildings.

Katie Fisher, the divisional managing director at McCarthy Stone, said: “Our proposals will help to address the local demand for specialist retirement accommodation, providing greater choice for those in later life whilst freeing up the wider housing market for families and first-time buyers further down the chain”.

Leanne Taylor, the land manager for Anchor, said: “The UK’s population is ageing, and it is vital that a range of housing options are available to supports people’s needs and expectations as they grow older.

“The development in Sutton Coldfield will create high-quality, affordable accommodation for older people in the local community, ensuring that more people have homes where they love living in later life.”

Since submitting a planning application in February 2022, Anchor and McCarthy Stone have worked with Birmingham City Council to produce a design that is appropriate for the site and works for the local community.

This has involved reducing both buildings by one storey since the plans were first unveiled, reducing any perceived visual impact.

Research undertaken by WPI Economics considered the economic impacts of having specialist retirement accommodation, near to the local high street.

The research indicates that this development in Sutton Coldfield, with 137 units, would likely generate around £1.6m of spending per year, over £1m of which would be in local businesses.