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 the delivery of new care homes, community facilities and measures to make the site more sustainable.

The work at Avonpark will see redundant care home buildings demolished and replaced with 74 new apartments for the elderly, all set on the leafy 15 acre site.

As well as the new homes, the improvements will also bring a major change to community facilities with the creation of a shop, restaurant, bar, flexible craft room, library and lounge, as well as extensive gardens including allotments and croquet lawn.

It’s part of RVG’s commitment to community, choice and wellness.

The specialist company is investing heavily in integrated retirement communities nationwide, with plans to deliver 5,000 new homes in 40 communities by 2030. As well as investing in existing sites such as Avonpark, new build projects as part of 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, provide an excellent range of community facilities and make the site more sustainable for decades to come.

“We would like to thank both Wiltshire Council for supporting our vision and the residents of Avonpark, who have worked closely with us as the plans have evolved.

“We are committed to investing in our existing portfolio of communities alongside the delivery of new retirement communities across the country. From the communal facilities to the stunning gardens and grounds, all our improvements are aimed at supporting residents to remain active and independent for longer, with the support of a genuine community.”

A major driver for the planned investment is not only to secure the future of the Avonpark community, with a focus on well-being and choice in old age, but also to enhance the site’s sustainability credentials. The approved upgrades include the installation of more than 150 solar panels, electric vehicle charging points and new wildlife habitats, the latter increasing the biodiversity on site by more than 30%.

RVG has been in touch with residents about community investment over the past two years as plans have 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 £6.8m economic boost during construction to the local economy; and £175,000 in council tax each year.

Work on the community is expected to begin in late 2024.