East Grinstead retirement village enters final planning phase

A £25 million project to transform a site near East Grinstead into a purpose built retirement community has entered the final planning phase.

With outline planning permission already granted for the 16 acre site on Felcourt Road, a ‘reserve matters’ application has now been submitted to Tandridge District Council.

A decision on the finer details of the building work including style and materials is expected in May and, if permission is granted, construction work on site – currently known as Charters Towers – will begin in the Autumn.

The plans will see Retirement Villages Ltd refurbishing the existing Edwardian manor house as the focal point of a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). This would house facilities – such as a restaurant, library and treatment suite – for the residents, staff and guests. Further buildings will be added around the grounds to house around 83 extra care properties and a 60 bed care home.

The site was formerly home to the world-famous Bush Davies School and has most recently been used by a security company. Many of the buildings had fallen into disrepair and have now been demolished.

The new buildings have all been designed in keeping with the manor house which will itself be sympathetically extended.

Retirement Villages Ltd’s Development Director Jami Puckering said: “We are delighted to be nearing the end of the planning process and to be looking forward to starting work on the site and providing a first class facility for the people who choose to live here and the community as a whole.”

The application can be viewed on the council’s website: planning.tandridge.gov.uk/eaccess/AppNumberSearchResults.asp