PLANS have been submitted to build a multi-million pound retirement complex in Lostock Gralam.

The plan for the two-acre site on the Cheshire Business Park, includes proposals to build 65 apartments with communal areas in a retirement living complex and for a change of use of the land at Cheshire Avenue from mixed use land (B1) to C.

The development which will run close to the planned HS2 rail line is also seeking associated landscaping.

The application has been submitted by Rob Stratton of Lane End Development Construction on behalf of the agent Paddock Johnson Partnership of Port Sunlight.

A planning statement which was submitted by the applicant suggests that using Cheshire Avenue to access the site would minimise impact to the main Manchester Road.

The site which is mixed use land for residential, employment and agricultural uses, it was used for the latter purpose up to 2006.

The statement suggests that the site offers a huge opportunity to deliver much needed accommodation primarily designed for the older population of Lostock Gralam and surrounding areas.

The apartments will fall into four categories: (1) Two bedroom (63.1 sq metres);

(2) One bedroom (51.6 sq. metres); (3) Two bedrooms (63.6 sq metres); and (4) One bedroom (59 sq metres).

The main complex will be three storey but will reduce to two storey close to Manchester Road to reduce the impact of the development.

The application envisages one parking space for every three apartments with 10 per cent for visitors and four disabled spaces.

A ground report suggested that there was a potential for ground dissolution stability hazard on the site, however it was considered to pose a low risk to the proposed development.

A study carried out by the applicant had shown that there was an increased need for more retirement facilities with the population of over-65s set to rise from the current 71,300 in 2017 in the borough of Cheshire West and Chester Council to 98,300 by 2035 an increase of 38 per cent.

Lostock Gralam parish councillor Peter Kelly said: “The council still has to give its view on this but my own personal view is that I can’t see any harm in this application given that it is a piece of land which looks horrible.”

A decision is likely to be made by parish councillors at their next meeting on February 6.