Retirement community proposed for Hertingfordbury

A developer is proposing to build a 208 home retirement community in a field in Hertfordfordbury.

Hertingfordbury Land Ltd have submitted a planning application for a "Continuing Care Retirement Community comprising up to 168 one- and two-bedroom extra-care apartments, 40 assisted living apartments a village centre building with community and medical facilities, external landscaping and green infrastructure".

In documents submitted to the council, the developer describes the plans as including "high-quality extra care and close care housing, medical centre, a local convenience store and post office, recreational infrastructure, restaurant and a wellness centre."

The 5.5 hectare site is to the north of St.Joseph's In The Park school and east of St.Mary's Lane and is currently occupied by The Pony Ranch. The landowner claims he was not informed about the planning application before it was validated by the district council.

Hertingfordbury Land have been involved in four previous planning applications for a retirement community on land nearby at Brickfields. All of those applications were either refused or withdrawn. An appeal by the company to The Planning Inspectorate was also withdrawn. Costs were later awarded against the company after what the Planning Inspectorate described as "unreasonable behaviour".

A decision on the application will be made by the council's Development Control Committee later in the year.