A planning application for a controversial retirement living complex in the centre of Bridport has been submitted. 

Plans for 48 apartments and 25 cottages have been put forward by Churchill Living for land at Hanson Quarry and the JC Phillips site off South Street.

The application proposal is to demolish existing buildings and redevelop the site to provide a new retirement community with communal areas, including owners lounge and coffee bar; refuse store; buggy/cycle store; parking with turning areas.

Plans show 17 parking spaces for the 48 retirement flats and 18 spaces for the 25 cottages.

There has already been some controversy over the plans, which were first made public when Churchill Retirement Living asked the community for its views back in March prior to creating a planning application.

If approved, it would mean another retirement development in the area after McCarthy Stone built its luxury 'retirement living' apartments, named Gordon Court, on the former Mountjoy School site in Flood Lane.

Churchill Living held a two-week public consultation, something it said would help shape its plan.

According to the developers, the homes will be designed for local people over the age of 60 who want to 'carry on living independently as they get older whilst enjoying safety, support and a social life.'

A spokesperson for Churchill Retirement Living said at the time: “Retirement housing is the most effective form of residential development for generating local economic growth, local jobs, and increasing high street spend as it brings regular shoppers closer to the town centre.

“Our proposed development would help improve the health and wellbeing of those who live there and meet the housing needs of many older people in Bridport and the surrounding area. Our plans to regenerate this previously developed site will also help to reduce the need for greenfield development to meet the urgent demand for new homes in the local area."

Company representatives attended a meeting of Bridport Town Council’s planning committee in July, telling councillors and the public they were helping fulfil a ‘critical’ need for housing in the area – but others did not agree.

Cllr Sarah Carney said Bridport was in ‘dire need’ of social housing, particularly for young people in the town, and described the proposed use of the land as a ‘missed opportunity.’

Just last week, at a full council meeting, members of the public spoke about a ‘housing emergency ‘ in the town and how it is in desperate need of affordable housing, social housing and rental properties in order to keep young, local people and families in the area.

 

Some objections have already been made to the application online, including resident Alexandra McTeare who said: “There is already too much of this type of accommodation in Bridport. We do not need more older people in our population. Local NHS services are already over stretched- it is impossible to get a GP appointment in a timely way, and this will only get worse with this development, which does not have to contribute anything to local services. We need affordable housing for local young people and families.

Louise Ferguson said: “Bridport does not need yet more such developments. It needs affordable housing for younger people”.

Kate Robertson echoed the same concerns: This town is becoming a retirement village in itself and it needs affordable housing for young people and people with families. Not more retirement villagers.”

Lisa Blake wrote to the News about her concerns.

“As a lifelong resident of Bridport, not a relocated retiree or someone looking to enjoy the ‘bohemian’ feel of our once thriving market town, I cannot stand by whilst another housing scheme to build more retirement homes is planned to marginalise the town’s population.

“As a mother I am truly disgusted by the shameful way our local councils ignore the needs of our young people, so many of whom have been forced to start their lives elsewhere because they have absolutely no chance of finding a home in the town where they were born.

“I urge both the town and county councils to take a long hard look at this application before giving a decision and maybe consider providing some rental or purchase property opportunities for the young of our town before it eventually becomes one big retirement village devoid of any youth whatsoever.”

You can submit your views on Dorset Council's planning portal under the planning application reference: P/FUL/2024/04613