AN APPLICATION has been submitted to transform Basingstoke’s former police station into a retirement living complex.

As previously reported in the Gazette, Churchill Retirement Living had been looking to develop the site in London Road.

Now, a formal application has been presented to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to change the old station house into 55 retirement apartments.

Churchill Retirement Living has said ‘in the context of an ageing population there is a need to both increase the level of understanding around the housing needs of older people and to increase the supply of specialist and general needs accommodation available to meet the changing needs of older people.’

If the development is given the green light, the apartments would be sold by the applicant with a lease containing an age restriction which ensures that only people of 60 years or over, or those of 60 years or over with a spouse of partner of at least 55, can live in the development.

To ensure residents safety, the proposed site would have a lodge manager on site, as well as a video entry system.

The planning design statement read: “Churchill Retirement Living believe that clearly defined types of housing for older people are required, including retirement living, and that local authorities should be setting specific housing targets for each type.

“One of the essential characteristics of such housing is double loaded corridors which are necessitated by security, safety, land values and sustainable land use.”

The former police station was deemed surplus to requirements after a new Police and Investigation Centre opened in the Viables.

The planning statement continued: “The council acknowledge within their pre-application response that in light of the recent construction of the new Police and Investigation Centre in Viables Business Centre, there does appear to be the potential that the loss of the existing facility can be justified in line with the requirements of the policy CN7.”

The applicant claims that the site would be ideal for retirement living as it has good access to local services and facilities; and is well served by public transport, with appropriate levels of on-site landscaping, amenity space and car parking.

A statement from Churchill Retirement Living read: “Moving into a retirement property enables older people to free up cash from their home, which can be used to pay for other expenses, leading to a higher quality of life and retirement.”

The application has been submitted after a period of public consultation and pre-application discussion with the borough council.

For more on the plan, go to planning.basingstoke.gov.uk and search for 19/00436/FUL.