A development for retirees consisting of 32 new homes is on the cards for Gidea Park. 

McCarthy Stone, a company specialising in developing and managing retirement communities, has put forward the proposal, with land on the corner of Main Road and Gidea Avenue being eyed-up. 

A combination of 15 one- and 17 two-bedroom properties, the proposed development would also include a host of communal facilities, including a club lounge, reception, office and mobility store. 

The site is currently occupied by two private properties. 

In the design and access statement submitted as part of the application, opportunities for the potential homes are noted including the borough’s need for high-quality living accommodation, and the site’s proximity to key pedestrian, public transport and road links. 

Some constraints are however also listed, including the need to retain all boundary trees around the site. 

In a statement, McCarthy Stone notes how it is estimated that by 2031, the number of older persons living in Havering will increase from 31,000 to 35,300. Due to what it describes as an “acute housing shortage”, the company said that younger families and older households are now having to compete for smaller dwellings. 

If approved, the proposed development would add "high-quality and suitable accommodation for older persons to downsize to", they added, "while also freeing up under occupied family sized homes for younger people in the area". 

Mark Bryan, divisional development director for McCarthy Stone London & South East, said: “Our proposals for Gidea Park will help to address a demand for retirement accommodation in the wider area, providing housing choices for older people, whilst freeing up the wider housing market for local families and first-time buyers further down the chain. 

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“Research shows that every McCarthy Stone apartment sold generates at least two moves further down the housing chain. This means a 32-unit scheme in Gidea Park, would likely free up 64 homes for local people at differing stages of the housing ladder. 

“There is a real need for specialist retirement accommodation in Gidea Park, and this proposal will go some way to addressing that, whilst at the same time releasing existing family homes onto the market.” 

View the application on Havering Council’s planning portal using the reference P1786.22.