Artist's impressions released of retirement flats plans in Shrewsbury

Developers McCarthy & Stone want to build 32 apartments on Wenlock Road and recently changed their plans in a bid to overcome objections.

Now, they have released the graphics to show what their proposals would look like in reality.

The images have been added to the Shropshire Council planning website after agents working for McCarthy & Stone confirmed the number of flats planned had been reduced from 35 to 32.

Changes have also been proposed to the amount of car parking, with an extra space taking the number of spaces to 30, meaning car parking provision would cover 93 per cent of the development compared to the previous 80 per cent.

Under the new plans the development will also appear as three individually linked pavilion buildings which will feature bay windows, low level canopies and feature chimneys.

If approved, the house currently on the site would be demolished to make way for the new buildings.

In a design and access statement submitted in the planning application, it is said the current average age of residents in McCarthy & Stone developments is 78.

A petition against the plans also gathered more than 100 signatures. Petitioners voiced concerns over the appearance of the building, the impact on traffic and the lack of parking spaces.

Nearby residents have also voiced concerns over the proposals, saying they are likely to create extra traffic on Wenlock Road and questioning the future upkeep of the building.

Darren Humphreys, regional managing director at McCarthy & Stone said: "We have carefully reconsidered our original plans.

"This has resulted in significant design alterations, including reducing the number of apartments proposed, which has reduced the overall mass and height of the new building while increasing the car parking provision.

"We've strived to introduce a scheme and design that positively responds to and respects the character and the appearance of the local area.

"Our revised design ensures our proposal will positively respond to local distinctiveness, whilst improving the range of housing choices available to local people in later life."

Paul Basham, transport consultant for McCarthy & Stone, moved to allay any traffic and parking concerns about the plans.

Responding to points raised by highways consultants Mouchel in an earlier report, he said: "McCarthy & Stone have been selling the retirement living product for many years and it is clearly in their own commercial interests that the parking areas operate satisfactorily.

"Residents of retirement living schemes undertake significantly less trips per day than residents of regular residential developments, as they do not travel to work or transport children to school.

"McCarthy & Stone have been operating this type of retirement living for over 40 years and therefore have extensive experience in the requirements of such developments, including the level of parking needed."

The revised plans will go before Shropshire Council's planning committee at a future date.