Plans unveiled for huge new retirement complex in Birmingham neighbourhood

Big plans have been submitted to build 53 new retirement apartments and a 77-bed care home in Erdington.

Applicants McCarthy Stone and Liberty Care Developments want to transform derelict land off Orphanage Road into a new housing complex for the elderly. The site sits opposite Erdington Leisure Centre near Hart Road.

A planning document reads: “The proposal constitutes a sustainable form of redevelopment of a brownfield site for uses for which there is an identified need within the city. The development would make a positive impact on the character of the area, have no adverse effect on the setting of nearby heritage assets, provide adequate levels of amenity and would not result in any harm to highway safety.”

A breakdown of the application would be a new four storey 53-bedroom retirement home consisting of 27 one-bed and 26 two-bed apartments, plus a three storey 77-bedroom care home. The retirement complex would include a lobby, reception and communal lounge and, within the care home, communal facilities would include 10 lounge and dining rooms (four with balconies and two with patio areas), a cinema and activity room and a hair and beauty room.

Elsewhere, up to 75 full time equivalent jobs would be created by the care home development while 22 parking spaces and a buggy store are to be provided for the retirement home. The care home would have 26 parking spaces with four electric vehicle charging points and a cycle store. The project, if approved, would take no longer than three years to complete.

Ahead of this week’s planning decision (November 9), just one letter of objection has been passed to city council officers citing concerns surrounding an increase in traffic, lack of parking, noise disturbance and how the size and scale of the development will result in a loss of light. Another local resident has also requested that a walkway be provided through the site to the nearby Lidl store to the north off Sutton Road.