Retirement homes plan to be decided by government inspector

Proposals for 34 retirement homes in Hertford town centre will be decided by a government inspector after the district council failed to determine the application within an appropriate period.

The planning application was submitted at the beginning of November last year (2022) by Churchill Retirement Living for the brownfield site on the corner of Bircherley Street and Railway Street. The site was formerly occupied by Lloyds Bank and Halfords before the buildings were demolished as part of the Bircherley Green redevelopment scheme.

The proposal is for 34 one and two bed retirement apartments including communal facilities, access, car parking and landscaping, along with 20 sqm of retail space.

The council will be contesting the application due to the design, scale and height of the development, inadequate natural ventilation and poor quality external amenity space, lack of affordable housing, lack of sustainability and the fact that the proposals do not meet identified housing needs.

Hertford Town Council have also objected to the plans, highlighting the fact that there is already significant provision for senior living in the town that has yet to be fully occupied.

A public enquiry on the proposals is expected to open on Tuesday 4th July 2023.