Banstead Place, Surrey

Retirement living company Birchgrove has secured planning for the development of 54 high- quality assisted living apartments in Banstead Place, Surrey.

Banstead Place is in the Banstead Conservation Area and the Metropolitan Green Belt. It comprises several buildings with the main one being Grade II listed Banstead House, together with a small number of other listed structures, a ha-ha ditch, orchard and arboretum and stables.

Alongside the 11 apartments in the listed elements, Birchgrove will build further apartments in style of ‘alms houses’ which allow each resident to have their own front door and garden.

Unlike most other assisted living developments in the UK, Birchgrove works on a rental model.

Honor Barratt, managing director at Birchgrove said: “At a time when so many C2 planning for development is being refused, I am absolutely thrilled by the decision and the approval of the scheme. It is the result of the dogged approach of the teams at Birchgrove and Levanter Developments, and the uncompromising commitment of Hunters architects.”

Paul Evans, construction director at Birchgrove added: “Our approach to preserve and enhance the heritage assets that is harmonious to the site’s setting weighed heavily in our favour and I am delighted the planners were unanimous in their decision to permit the development. The need for independent assisted living accommodation for people in later life is projected to soar at a high rate in years to come. We therefore need to see more local authorities embracing C2 developments to provide suitable housing options for people in later life.”