Plans for £100m retirement village and luxury care home submitted in Tees Valley

An ambitious £100 million retirement village that will bring hundreds of jobs and major overseas investment into the Tees Valley has had planning permission submitted.

Maher Developments Ltd has submitted an outline planning application to build an integrated village community for older and retired people with high quality buildings constructed to Level 5 of the Code of Sustainable Homes, with social, cultural and leisure facilities.

Prices at the development at Mount Leven Farm, Leven Bank Road, Yarm would range from £140,000 to £250,000.

It would be the first community of its kind on this scale in the UK, acting as a blueprint for Maher Developments and its Middle East investors who hope to create up to 20 similar schemes across the country.

The development would consist of 450 properties, mainly one-bedroom and two bedroomed bungalows.

There would also be a luxury care home with 24 hour dementia and nursing care.

Ten per cent would be affordable housing for people working at the development including care staff, gardeners, cleaners and estate maintenance staff.

Facilities on site include a doctor’s surgery, cafe, restaurant and bar, IT room library, hair salon and therapy room.

Sports facilities including a gym, swimming pool, tennis and badminton courts, bowling green and allotments have also been proposed.

Javed Majid of Maher Developments, who owns the land, is also planning to hand over 60 acres to the public as a country park and nature reserve.

Javed Majid said: “This project will bring the Tees Valley massive investment, jobs and the opportunity to lead the way in which older people live.

“I have spent several years researching developments like this across the world, particularly in the USA, Australia and the UAE.

“It is not just property we are building but a whole lifestyle and a range of living options for the over 50s, from completely independent living through to nursing care.

“I am hugely excited about this development and the benefits for the Tees Valley. It will meet the needs and aspirations of the older generation and have a major positive impact on the local and regional economy.

“I want to maintain an open dialogue with the local community and engage with them to ensure that this innovative development is embraced by all. I also want to give something back to the area I have lived and worked in for so long, hence the donation of some of my land for the public to enjoy and for the council to utilise as parking.”