Plans for an American-style 250 bed care village on a 12-acre site in Shrewsbury have been unveiled, the Chronicle can reveal.
The development is proposed for an area of land between the A5 and the Rea Brook in Meole Brace.
While the site falls outside of the designated development area in Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council’s Local Plan, the developers hope the plans will be approved because of the growing need for older people’s facilities.
Although West Midlands- based developers Maximus do not own the site they have an option on the land and are gathering feedback from the public before an outline planning application is submitted to borough planning bosses.
The care village, which would be accessed from Pulley Lane, will offer three levels of care across 250 units with facilities including a shop, cafe, library and hydrotherapy suite.
People will be able to buy apartments for independent living, and close care apartments and nursing care would also be provided.
Gareth Edmunds, a spokesman for Maximus, said: “The idea of the care village is so people can make a life choice.
“They can move in with the security that if their needs change all the services are on site for them to live independently as much as possible.”
He said if outline planning permission was agreed, a Section 106 agreement would be considered for the development so only local residents could live there.
“We’ve got an ageing population and a strong need for it,” he said.
If the development gets the go-ahead, Maximus will develop the site in conjunction with the future operators of the site who have not yet been identified.
The care village, already a popular concept in the States, Canada, and South Africa, would be the first of its kind in the town.
Plans will be available for public viewing from 4pm (Thursday) at the Trinity Centre, Meole Brace, and again on Saturday morning, as well as at the Lion Hotel from 1.30pm to 6.30pm tomorrow (Friday).
l What do you think? Email us your views to jbut terworth@shrewsbury chronicle.co.uk