THE SITE of the former Staples store in Shirley could become a retirement village, under proposals being considered by Solihull Council.
Churchill Retirement Living, based in Hampshire, is eyeing up the retail site to build 48 retirement apartments with a community centre, car park and landscaped grounds.
The developer recently completed a retirement village less than half a mile away, on the site of the former Woolmans Garden Centre. where a one bed apartment currently costs £290,000.
In documents handed to Solihull’s planning department, Churchill proposes 30 one bedroom apartments and 18 two bedroom apartments on land at the junction of School Road and Stratford Road, to be targeted for sale to residents over 60-years-old.
Once built, Churchill plans to sell its flats at around £250,000, and two bed bungalows around £355,000.
The group expects to earn £21,750 in ground rent attached to leases on the homes, plus a further £116,000 per year in service charges.
Valuations by land agents working for Churchill price the plot on Stratford Road at £2.24 million.
If successful in its application, Churchill hopes to have the village built within two years, with work starting early in 2020. It would pay £276,175 towards community facilities in Shirley to compensate.
The site’s proximity to local shops in Shirley and bus routes was a reason why traffic impacts would be reduced once residents move in, says Churchill.
In the papers submitted on behalf of Churchiill Retirement Living to Solihull Council, planning agent Simon Cater of Planning Issues also said: “This application goes a long way to providing housing for older people to address the critical need for elderly housing.
“We request once our application is made valid that is is fast tracked through the planning application process and determined within 13 weeks.”
The space occupies the empty shop vacated by Office Outlet, the stationery supplier which collapsed in March this year due to debts.
