Our plans to build a new retirement community on the site of the Beechmoor Garden Centre on Whitchurch Road in Boughton Heath, Chester were given planning permission by Cheshire West & Chester Council in 2021. We are seeking to make some changes to the plans before we start construction later this year.

Since we originally consulted you on the plans for a new retirement community the cost of building materials has dramatically increased due to factors such as COVID-19 and international supply chains being impacted by issues including the conflict in the Ukraine. This meant we had to take stock and find a new way to meet our ambitions for the site which include:

• High quality design that reflects the local character with apartments set over six villas.
• An exemplar of sustainability with low-energy buildings and use of renewable energy sources.
• Encouraging green modes of transport with walking and cycling routes, a sustainable transport hub with cycles for hire and electric car charging.
• Improving wellbeing through generously sized homes, with lots of natural light and adaptable to residents’ way of life.
• Communal facilities and outdoor areas which will support our residents to have an active and sociable lifestyle that can also be shared with friends and family.
• Increasing biodiversity with green and open spaces where residents and visitors can walk and cycle, including extensive gardens and a community square.

We’re looking to make some changes to the plans which we’ll need to get approved by Cheshire West & Chester Council. We’re planning to increase the number of apartments from 147 to 155. By reconfiguring the layout and changing the mix we’ve been able to do this without increasing the size of the buildings or reducing the size of the apartments, while only slightly changing the overall design. The villas range between three and five storeys, located away from the site edges and screened with planting and trees so they are less visible from Whitchurch Road.

We’re increasing the number of parking spaces to account for the additional apartments so there will be the same ratio as agreed with the original plans.

The café and community space will be bigger and in a standalone building. It includes flexible studio space, a shop, a café and the sustainable transport hub. To account for this, we’re no longer planning a swimming pool at the village.

We’re planning the same amount of green space and improvements to biodiversity, and our commitment to sustainability remains, with the village aiming to be a net zero carbon development.

We want to deliver a sustainable development that promotes community health and wellbeing, and encourage the local community and people using the Park and Ride to enjoy the public spaces at the retirement village.

We’ve taken on board your views on what kind of facilities you’d like to see and that these shouldn’t compete with what’s already in Boughton Heath.

These will include:

• A small ‘community shop’ (selling key groceries like milk and bread) which will be run by us and shouldn’t compete with what’s already in the local area
• A café where you can sit and enjoy a coffee or grab a takeout on your way to the Park and Ride
• A wellness suite with a studio gym and treatment room for residents and members to use. Local people can become members and all users must arrive on foot, cycle or public transport
• Open spaces and a community square
• Walking and cycle routes through the site connecting to the canal cycle network
• A sustainable transport hub with cycles for hire meaning people using the Park and Ride could cycle into Chester