Retirement village plans approved on appeal

Plans to build a luxury retirement village on a former landfill site in Surrey have been approved on appeal, overturning the council’s initial refusal.

The phased development in Sunbury, proposed by Inspired Village, will include 164 homes as senior living accommodation, a village centre and a care home.

The planning inspector found there were “very special circumstances” of providing homes for older people which outweighed harm to the green belt.

Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) initially rejected the application in October 2023 because the retirement village was considered to be out of character with the rural area of Vicarage Road.

There was also concern that the development would not contribute to affordable homes, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

But a planning inspector has overruled the local authority’s decision, saying “there is no doubt that there is a clear and pressing need for this type of development".

The inspector said the “over-riding suburban character” of the area would mean the retirement village would not be out of place.

Neighbours who were campaigning against the retirement village had raised concerns about the development’s impact on the long-standing flooding problems in the area.

The inspector said it would be feasible to adequately drain the site, so it would not create an increased flood risk.

The Environment Agency had also expressed concerns that the development would disturb historic landfill, causing illegal waste activity.

Harry Boparai, SBC councillor for Sunbury Common, said: “Spelthorne Council has been steadfast in representing the interests of its residents, and we gave everything we could to oppose this appeal.

"This result is profoundly disappointing for us all.”

Conditions on the approval include restrictions on the hours of construction, a buffer zone to protect wildlife and an assessment of the risks of contamination.

Ellen Pearce, head of planning for Inspired Villages, had said the development would help meet "the growing need for specialist housing for older people in Spelthorne", and include an on-site medical facility.

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