AN ASSISTED living unit, including 70 two-bedroom apartments, could be built on land at a Baughurst golf course.

Graham Land and Development has applied to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council to build on 1.25 hectares of an unused part of the Bishopswood Golf Course, in Bishopswood Lane.

The developer has proposed the construction of a part two-storey and part three-storey assisted living unit, comprising of 70 two-bedroom ‘suites’ along with a gym, community room and hydrotherapy pool.

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Within the plans, the company said: “As the population continues to age, the opportunity for people to transition to supported living is something that should be encouraged earlier. This enables a resident to retain their dignity and independence in a setting where care is available as and when required, along with the facilities expected in your own home.

“The independent care apartments look to offer two bed apartments which are designed with the utmost care and attention to detail as a private home with all the requirements to enable someone to truly age in place.”

Each apartment will include a master bedroom with wet room en-suite and a second bedroom for carers to say as and when support is required.

In January the developer approached the council for pre-application advice stating it wanted to build a part three and part four-storey development of 113 apartments. It was told that this was considered an “overdevelopment of the site”. It returned in April with a smaller development of 74 homes, before submitting the current proposal.

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The sparked some criticism from residents submitting objections to the borough council.

Jonathan Davies said: “I strongly object to this proposal - with the development of the former Reading Warehouses site into retirement properties and the proposal to develop opposite Esso on Mulfords Hill for a similar purpose, Tadley cannot support yet more higher support requirement residents. Improve the infrastructure first - we need better healthcare support, better retail availability, roads which aren't crumbling constantly.”

Others raised concern about wildlife and infrastructure, particularly GP services in the area, saying that they are already struggling.

However, the Integrated Care Board said in response to the application: “The GP surgeries within the catchment area that this application would affect, currently have sufficient infrastructure capacity to absorb the population increase that this potential development would generate.”