A DEVELOPER behind plans to turn old council offices in Devizes into an assisted living retirement complex believes it will help free up other homes to help the town's housing need.

McCarthy & Stone held an exhibition of its plans for Browfort last week and was pleased with the response from more than 30 people who turned up to look at the plans.

Shane Paull, McCarthy & Stone's regional managing director, said: “The public exhibition was an excellent opportunity for us to understand the views of the local community and I would like to take this opportunity to thank people for their constructive comments and questions.

“We have worked hard to ensure our proposals represent a sensitive development which complements the local area with high-quality materials and a design that brings this vacant part of the Browfort site back into productive use.

"We believe this site is an ideal location to provide much-needed assisted living accommodation in Devizes, which will assist in freeing up nearby family homes for other residents living in the town.

"Our proposals represent a significant investment right into the centre of Devizes, which will help improve a key strategic site and assist both new and existing residents who wish to keep on living in the town in their later years."

The project which the developer is doing as a joint venture with Your Life Management Services includes 55 assisted living apartments at the former Kennet District Council offices.

The offices have been empty since Kennet and other councils merged to create the new Wiltshire Council seven years ago.

Town and Wiltshire councillors have welcomed the project as they are pleased the brownfield site will at least be developed. But some including Devizes town councillor Nigel Carter would have preferred affordable homes for local people.

The land is included in the Devizes Neighbourhood Area Plan for housing. It is now expected the developers will submit a planning application to Wiltshire Council.

McCarthy & Stone said the complex would be over-seen by an estate manager and have staff based on-site and support available 24 hours a day.