Plans to build a “retirement village” in Kings Langley have hit a stumbling block after the parish council objected to the proposal.

Developer McCarthy and Stone wants to demolish four houses in Hempstead Road, building in their stead a 40-unit retirement complex complete with associated community facilities and parking.

However at a well-attended meeting of Kings Langley Parish Council’s planning and licensing committee last night (Tuesday), councillors objected to the proposal.

Committee chairman Gerry Angiolini said: “So many villagers attended the meeting – about 20 came to object. Some people want it and others don’t.

“We were bound to object so that they could put their views to Dacorum.”

The plans will go before Dacorum Borough Council in the next couple of months for a final ruling.

McCarthy and Stone argues that the homes will “help meet an identified and growing need in the area”.

However campaigner Paul Rees said he does not recognise the developer’s claims.

“McCarthy and Stone is claiming that this is needed but actually there are seven retirement developments less than one mile from Kings Langley High Street,” he said.  

“To say there is additional demand is pure spin. Their business plan doesn’t stack up.”

He also argued that the plans would lead to overdevelopment, harming the character of the lower common conservation area, threatening the existence of wildlife, increasing parking problems, and adding to the burden on local services.

McCarthy and Stone said in a statement: “Naturally we are disappointed that Kings Langley Parish Council has objected to our proposals but we are confident that our plans would help to meet an identified and growing need for this kind of specialist housing in the area.

“We believe that our proposals would fill a gap in the market. Retirement living apartments encourage homeowners to continue living an active and independent life, whilst also enjoying the privacy they enjoyed in their previous homes.

“These homes are different to the older people’s housing in the area, including care homes, which provide daily assistance throughout the day.  

“The majority of homeowners moving into our developments already live in the area and are already using local services, such as the GP surgeries. As a result, there is unlikely to be a significant change in the number of new people signing up to local healthcare facilities.

“In addition, older people choosing to move into a retirement development generally frees up larger homes for families and helps first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder.”