Luxury retirement village set to get the go-ahead

The proposed development of luxury retirement accommodation in Yorkshire’s ‘Golden Triangle’, which will include the renovation of a grade II-listed building, looks set to get the green light from councillors next week (22 August 2019).Gaunt Francis Architects, on behalf of Audley Court, submitted plans to Leeds City Council last year for the development at Scarcroft in West Yorkshire.The site includes Scarcroft Lodge, a grade II-listed former mansion house built in 1830 that was most recently used as offices by Npower before it relocated to new premises in Leeds. It also features a pair of modern office buildings.Audley Group, a provider of luxury retirement villages, has previously agreed a deal to acquire a site.Planning permission is sought for the development of a community care village with 172 units of accommodation and nine private residential dwellings.A range of communal facilities would be created, including a health and well-being centre with swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, gym, salon and treatment rooms for physiotherapy, commercial kitchen, lounge, library, hobbies room, restaurant and bistro, and meeting rooms.The accommodation would comprise 148 apartments across 19 blocks, and 24 two-bed cottages. A total of 245 parking spaces would be provided, including 48 allocated to the nearby cricket club.The scheme is expected to create 65 jobs once occupied, as well as supporting roles during construction.The application will be considered by the council’s North and East Plans Panel on 22 August and is recommended for approval, subject to the signing of a legal agreement, in a planning officer’s report prepared for the meeting.The report said the proposed development would help the council meet a specialist housing need for older people in the area, boost the local economy and help secure the long-term future of the listed building.Pre-application proposals were previously presented in October 2018 and received positive feedback from committee members.