Our Proposals
Churchill Living’s vision is to deliver a sensitive development providing approximately 48 apartments and 3 cottages.
The proposed building materials have been chosen to reflect those materials and features found in the local area; as well as reflecting and building upon the positive attributes of the existing building.
All developments by Churchill Living include an internal Owner's Lounge and coffee bar and high-quality external amenity space designed for passive exercise and the visual enjoyment of residents over 60 years of age. Planting is considered for longevity, colour all year, seasonal change, maintenance and enhance local native biodiversity.
The proposed development would be constructed to modern standards, ensuring each apartment is as energy efficient as possible. State-of-the-art technology will ensure low internal water consumption and photovoltaic solar panels on the roof will deliver a 10% saving in CO2 emissions and a net gain in biodiversity.
Proposed Site Plan
Images showing proposed site elevations
Indicative elevation of proposed development from Edward Vinson Drive
Indicative elevation of proposed development from Jubilee Way
Benefits
Regeneration of an important site – The proposals would bring this important site, which is currently a vacant brownfield site and a significant eyesore, into positive and beneficial use and make a significant contribution locally in terms of social, economic and environmental benefits.
Supporting local businesses – Located within walking distance of a range of shops and key facilities in Faversham, a new Churchill development will provide an uplift in year-round new footfall at local shops and businesses.
Meeting the needs of older people – By moving to a Churchill Living Community of like-minded people, isolation and loneliness are significantly reduced as are anxieties related to the maintenance of the home and to safety and security experienced by many older people, enabling our residents to enjoy greatly improved health and general wellbeing.
Reducing demands on health and social services – Retirement communities reduce the risk of health challenges by helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness for elderly people as well as improving safety and security.
Freeing up homes – Research has shown that providing homes at the top of the housing ladder, which better meet the needs and aspirations of older people, helps release many larger, second-hand properties back onto the market for local families to move into. In turn, smaller homes are also released which are suitable for first-time buyers.
Need for retirement living
There is a pressing need for older persons housing in Faversham and the wider Swale Borough area; driven by demographic changes and supported by national and local policies. The UK is experiencing a housing crisis, with an insufficient number of homes being built to meet the needs of an ageing population. People live longer, and the proportion of older individuals is increasing significantly.
According to the Swale Borough Council’s ‘Choices For Housing Growth’ document, there is predicted to be a strong rise in one person households of older people. Data in Swale Borough Council’s Hosing Market Assessment (June 2020) also indicates that the population aged 65 or over is going to increase dramatically in the Swale area. The same document also recognises the need to provide housing for older people is critical and offering older people a better choice of accommodation to suit their changing needs can help them live independently for longer, feel more connected to their communities and help reduce social care and health systems.
Providing suitable housing for older adults can help them maintain independence, stay connected to their communities and reduce social care and health system costs. Additionally, increasing older persons’ housing can free up family homes, aiding the broader housing market. Therefore, redeveloping sites for older person housing in Faversham is both necessary and aligned with the Council’s development plans.
Parking
The typical age profile of those currently living at a Churchill Living community is an 80-year-old widow. Generally, 50% of residents also come from within a 5-mile radius of the location.
Given the above, residents of Churchill Living communities tend to not have cars. It is also generally found that those who do initially have cars tend to give them up soon after moving into a lodge as they no longer need it given the sustainable location and neighbourly living environment.
The proposal includes approximately 48 retirement apartments (34 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom), 3 cottages and 33 parking spaces (including 3 designated spaces for the cottages).
As retirement living is a very different operational use than residential apartments or care home developments, Churchill have developed an evidence base of research undertaken across several existing Churchill Retirement Developments. This research has shown that Churchill’s existing sites typically have a parking demand of 0.28 spaces per apartment. As such, regarding the 48 apartments, the parking demand is forecast to be in the region of 13.44 parking spaces.
Churchill is proposing 30 parking spaces, to cater for the apartments, at a ratio of 0.69 spaces per apartment. Given this exceeds the forecast parking demand, it is likely to exceed the need for parking at any given time and is therefore considered to be appropriate, especially given the town centre location meaning that a wide range of everyday services are within a short walk from the site. The site is also serviced by various transport links making the site highly connected and sustainable; includes the close Faversham train station that would provide quick and easy access to places further afield for the residents of the proposed retirement community.