A NEW retirement village which could be built in Didcot is “not needed” says residents.
Churchill Retirement Living, of Hampshire, have applied to South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, to build 29 apartments on the former Georgetown filling station on the corner of Foxhall Road and Broadway.
The 0.2 hectare site, where the former Shell station was demolished in 2018, has been proposed for a 3-storey “L-shaped” building with an internal courtyard.
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There would be one parking space per three apartments, a concierge reception, a lounge, an accessible toilet, a guest suite and more.
However residents are concerned the proposal is “over-development” and that Didcot already has provisions for older people.
William Hornsey, of Bishops Orchard, said: “I think the development of this site is a missed opportunity towards a sustainable future for Didcot.
“As it was a fuel station my belief is that it should be redeveloped as a rapid charging station for electric vehicles as Didcot has very few rapid chargers.
“We don’t need another retirement home especially as two are being built at both ends of the town.”
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Duncan Talbot, of Ernest Road, said: “An online survey said that Didcot was the 11th worst place to live in the UK. This plan shows both the best and worst of that statement.
“The best is updating a corner of land that has seen better days. The worst is an overdevelopment of that land.
“Perhaps the number of units could be reduced to reduce overdevelopment of the site.
“The plot suggests an impact on visibility for vehicles turning left from Foxhall Road into the Broadway and for pedestrians walking round the corner, particularly at peak times for school children - this is a major risk factor which requires serious attention.”
Darren Mobbs added: “Twenty-nine apartments but 10 car parking spaces and it's not very close for old people to walk to a bus stop.
“In the current situation it would be better returned to a petrol station especially with so much housing.
“Didcot already has an 80-bed care home at Great Western Park and the 65 bed at lower Broadway.”
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Jayne Lawton, of Wheatfields, said: “I cannot believe that planning has been sought in this area for a building of this size.
“Twenty-nine bedrooms with only 10 parking spaces is absolutely ludicrous. This is over-development of what is really a small site. To the council, please think about declining planning permission and not what might be achieved in financial gain.”
The planning authority is due to make a decision by Friday, June 14.
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