Untold Living submits planning application for retirement village

Untold Living has submitted a planning application for a retirement village on the site of a former care home in Crawley, West Sussex.

The later living developer-operator, which launched in January, has applied to Crawley Borough Council to construct 105 one-and two-bedroom extra care apartments, across two three- and four-storey buildings, at the site of Oakhurst Grange Care Home, which closed in 2013.

Subject to planning permission, the development will also feature 10 bungalows, as well as green and recreational space. On site amenities will include a lounge and bar, dining area, orangery, hairdresser, cinema, as well as activities and treatment rooms.

Different mid-market tenures, including to buy, rent and purchase via shared ownership, will be offered as part of the scheme, which will be Untold’s first new development.

‘Many thousands of older people are living in accommodation that is wholly unsuited to their needs, which poses a very real risk to their mental and physical wellbeing,’ said Russell Jewell, Untold Living chief executive.

‘The Untold Living scheme in Crawley will not only provide round-the-clock care and support to residents, but also help to tackle numerous chronic issues affecting older people that have been linked to cognitive decline, in particular isolation and loneliness.’

The planning application is expected to go before the council’s planning committee later this year. A consultation programme is underway to gather views and feedback of residents who live close to the site.

Untold Living, which operates Chantry Court village in Westbury, Wiltshire, is backed by Matter Real Estate, an investment firm focused on evolving sectors in Europe. The developer-operator is targeting a GDV of £300m for its initial development pipeline and is looking to buy sites across the UK.