A DERELICT nursing home is set to be brought back to life with plans in the making for a new retirement home.
Developer McCarthy Stone purchased the former nursing home in 20 Chalkwell Avenue, Westcliff, for a fee believed to be in the region of £1.5 million last year.
The firm has launched a virtual consultation on plans to refurbish the building and create “high-quality” retirement living accommodation.
Once renovated, the three-storey building first built in 1880, will provide 27 apartments for people aged 60 or over for outright sale, shared ownership, rent and part rent-part buy – comprised of 12 one-bed and 15 two-bed homes.
The development will also boast communal facilities, including a residents’ lounge, guest suite, internal refuse store, and mobility scooter storage.
Communal gardens will be provided, along with provision of 21 on-site car parking bays.
McCarthy Stone claims Southend needs more retirement accommodation, citing a council report which projects the number of over 65s in the borough to increase from 35,000 to 36,500 by 2031 as life-expectancy improves
“Redeveloping this site with specialist retirement accommodation will help address the need for specialist housing that meets the needs of older people,” a spokesman for the firm said.
They added: “The proposals will also have benefits for the wider housing market, as those moving to the retirement accommodation will ‘downsize’, thereby releasing much-needed family homes and smaller homes for first-time buyers further down the housing chain as for every three moves into retirement accommodation, two first time buyer homes are freed up in the chain.”
Andrew Wickett, divisional managing director for McCarthy Stone London and South East, said: “McCarthy Stone believes that the site at Chalkwell Avenue is in a highly sustainable location to meet a strong local need for specialist retirement living accommodation.”
To have your say, visit: www.mccarthystoneconsultation.co.uk/chalkwellavenue/
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel