RESIDENTS took a look at plans for 28 luxury retirement apartments for over 55s Old Yard in London Road during a public consultation yesterday.

Developers Renaissance Retirement want to build 13 bedroom one and 15 two apartments with 22 car park spaces at the site where Marlborough Building Supplies is currently located.

The owners of the land have consulted with the businesses in Old Yard about relocating.  

Development director at Renaissance Retirement Nick Watkins said: “We have a seven-seater concierge vehicle which comes with every development so we can take people to the shop say once a week,

"If someone buys an appartment we tie up with local businesses, say a restaurant or spa, for a free years membership and our concierge service can take people there as well.

“By having the car we hope to discourage some car ownership.

“We’ve got 22 car parking spaces which is in excess of what the local policy is, which is one space every two apartments, but as we’re aware that parking is always a very emotive issue, we’ve made sure we’ve provided more spaces than we’re required to.”

Renaissance will now look at feedback from the consultation with a view of submitting a planning application to Wiltshire Council at the end of March.

If planning is granted, it is anticipated that the build would start later in the year, with a show home available to view in 2016.

Gordon Hutt, of Ducks Meadow, attended the consultation. He said: “We’ll get a further consignment of old people from Newbury and Reading pushing into the town.

“How many people in this town living in a three bed semi are going to sell it for anything that will give them any change at all so it’s not going to be freeing up houses in the town.”