Plans have been lodged to build six retirement bungalows on empty land next to the Kopper Kettle in Barton.

The proposal in 639 Garstang Road, seeks to create single storey bungalows within a gated community for over 55’s only, with parking areas and landscaping, and alterations to the windows of the Kopper kettle to assist with the development.

Along with the provision of a staff car park for 13 parking spaces to the Kopper Kettle, which will be accessed off Garstang Road and is located at the rear of the site.

The site will consist of detached and semi‐detached bungalows, each offering a; two-bedroom accommodation; oversized car parking area to the front of the property for two cars; and to the rear of the homes a garden and patio area.

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One of the home styles will include a study or home office room, to enable those still working to be able to comfortably remote/home work.

The site to be developed for residential use, is partially located within the open countryside, just outside the rural settlement of Barton. It sits in an area of older well‐established residential properties, and is also wrapped by the newer, more recent Wain Homes development.

The site has good access to the facilities with Broughton Village, and the larger supermarkets, doctors surgeries, and hospital all within a three mile radius of the site.

Within 50m of the site are bus stops which allow connections into Preston and beyond, and the motorway network is within easy access via the by‐pass.

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Vehicle access into the proposed residential site would be from Garstang Road, in the area of the existing dropped kerb access to the side plot. This access would be widened and enhanced to create a 5.5m wide private access road into the site.

Pedestrian access into the site will be controlled by the main access security gates, a numerical keypad control will provide access for more frequent visitors including postal workers and refuse collectors.

The applicant Arbor Living are a developer working in a relatively niche market of independent living residential developments for the over 55’s.

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The design and access statement prepared by agents Aspire Design Studio Ltd said: “The homes, and the over 55’s restriction, will provide well planned and thought‐out accommodation for an area of society whose housing requirements/demands are often over‐looked and not catered for, giving them private, independent living for their latter years.

“The proposed residential development will provide much sought‐after high quality, single storey independent living for the over 55’s community, whilst enhancing the local area.

“It will provide a small‐scale infill development which will complement the surrounding properties, and provide a small level provision of properties towards the local authorities annual housing need, as the homes could be started and ready for sale on the open market within an 18 month period.”

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