RCKa and Retirement Villages Group have submitted plans to transform the former Beechmore garden centre in Boughton Heath, Chester, into a £32m net zero carbon retirement village.
Retirement Villages bought the site – which already had consent for 110 retirement apartments – last year.
Its plans will deliver six villages offering 147 flats on the site, and create a new gateway into Chester. The scheme will also include a community shop, gym, wellness suite and café.
The development has been planned to adhere to the new Fitwel Standard, which is an accreditation based on environmental sustainability, wellbeing, transport connections, safety and landscape.
To meet its net zero carbon goal, the project will be built using a high-performance building fabric and a sitewide “ambient loop” heat network, reducing carbon emissions from heating and other services by nearly 50%. This, combined with renewable energy generated on site, will lead to a further reduction in emissions. It is targeting a total reduction in embodied carbon of 40%.
Tim Riley of RCKa said: “If approved, this project will set a benchmark for developments in the region and the retirement sector. Furthermore, it will demonstrate that, through meaningful collaboration with local stakeholders, high quality designs can be developed that bring multiple benefits to local communities.”
Image courtesy of RCKa and Retirement Villages Group
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