Proposals have been made to build 44 retirement apartments on a vacant, brownfield site in Wantage.

The plans for the one and two bedroom properties aim to provide a solution to the growing number of elderly people in Oxfordshire, enabling older people to stay near their families and friends in the Wantage region.

The proposed development, located in the north-east corner of the Kingsgrove development, allows provision for communal facilities, extensive landscaping, and associated parking.

Oxfordshire County Council previously projected a sharp rise in the elderly population, expecting a 55 per cent increase in people aged 85 or older across Oxfordshire from 2017 and 2030.

The proposal also falls in line with the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Housing Delivery Strategy 2022-2024, which confirmed a need for specialist older persons housing.

Simon Broomfield, divisional development director of McCarthy Stone Southern, said: "We are pleased to reveal our plans to deliver much-needed retirement living accommodation in Wantage.

"Our proposals would help to address a demand in the area, providing housing choice for older people, whilst freeing up the wider housing market for local families and first-time buyers further down the chain."

There will be a consultation event at Wantage and Grove Cricket Club on April 24, from 4pm – 7pm.

Mr Broomfield continued: "We are keen to develop a scheme that positively contributes to the local community.

"We want to hear local views on our proposals before we finalise our planning application.

"I’d encourage people to attend our in-person event or go online and view the proposals, where they’ll be able to complete our feedback form."

Feedback on the proposal will be accepted until April 29, and will play a key role in informing and shaping McCarthy Stone’s final plans.

Residents of the proposed development would benefit from reduced health challenges, including slips and trips.

Independent research by WPI Economics determines that this reduced risk of health
challenges means that residents of a 44 home McCarthy Stone development would be expected to generate savings to the NHS of around £199,628 per year

He added: "Our plans for Wantage provide a valuable opportunity to improve the health and wellbeing of local older people, whilst also supporting significant cost savings to the NHS and local social care services.

"By 2032, there will be five million people over eighty living in the UK – if just one in eight were housed in a home suitable for later living, this could generate total fiscal savings across the NHS and social services of £2.1bn per year."