Our Proposals

The proposed development would provide a high-quality, independent retirement living building of 28 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom apartments, 42 apartments in total.

A new Churchill Living lodge

Residents will benefit from a communal Owner’s Lounge and coffee bar to promote social interaction and provide a space for events and gatherings. There is a guest suite for when friends and family want to come and stay.

All developments by Churchill Retirement Living provide high quality landscaping designed for the visual enjoyment of residents over 60 years of age. Planting is considered for longevity, colour all year, seasonal change, maintenance and local native biodiversity. Churchill Living have won awards for excellence for their landscaped gardens.

Parking

The proposal includes 14 unallocated parking spaces for the apartments, in addition to covered parking for electric mobility scooters. Vehicular access is retained in its existing location off Church Lane.

The typical age profile of those currently living at a Churchill retirement community is an 80-year-old widow, and around 50% of residents move from within a five-mile radius of the location.

Given the above, residents of Churchill communities tend not to have cars. It is also generally found that those who do initially have cars tend to give them up soon after moving into a lodge, as they no longer need them given the sustainable, town-centre location and neighbourly living environment.

As retirement living is a very different operational use to residential or care home developments, Churchill has developed an evidence base across several existing Churchill developments. This concludes that Churchill’s existing sites typically have a parking demand of 0.28 spaces per apartment.

As such, the parking demand forecast for the 42 apartments proposed would be approximately 11.8 parking spaces. Churchill is proposing 14 parking spaces to cater for the apartments, at a ratio of 0.33 spaces per apartment, which is likely to exceed the parking demand.

Need for Retirement Living

People are living longer lives and the proportion of older people in the population is increasing.

The 2021 Census shows that between 2011 and 2021 there has been an increase of 15.7% in people aged 65 and over in Leeds. Throughout the same period there has been an increase of 5.3% in people aged 15 to 64 years and an increase of 12.4% in children aged under 15 years, showing the greatest increase has been in those over 65.

Looking forward, the 2022 sub national population projections show that between 2022 and 2047 the greatest population increase in Leeds is predicted in those aged 80 and over. The graph shows increases of 65% for those aged 80-84, 62% for 85-89 and 80% for those aged 90 and over.

The Council’s Strategic Housing Market Assessment (2025 Update) identifies a need for 8,163 units of leasehold sheltered housing in Leeds between 2024 and 2040. This is a need for 480 units per annum, which is a high level of need.

Public consultation boards

Quality Design

The proposed redevelopment offers an opportunity to significantly enhance the character of this part of Church Lane, replacing a vacant site with a high-quality residential scheme.

Churchill has taken great care to evolve a design that draws on materials found in the local area, so that the proposed retirement building reflects and reinforces the character of its surroundings.

The emerging design responds to Horsforth’s local character combining cream brick and stone to reflect local materials

The massing has been carefully broken down so that the building sits comfortably alongside neighbouring properties and the adjacent Horsforth Library.

The building proposes 2 ½ -3 storey to the front of Church Avenue and Church Lane but steps down to single and 2 storey to the rear, respecting the surrounding residential amenity whilst balancing the need for efficient use of brownfield land in line with government guidance.

Perspective View Along Church Lane

Perspective View At Junction of Church Ave and Church Lane

A strong record of delivery

Churchill have a strong track-record in delivering the sites on which they secure planning permissions and prides itself in delivering high quality developments that are robustly designed, costed and deliverable once planning permission has been obtained.

Two recently completed schemes in Lymington and Drayton demonstrate this dependability, and that we build what we get planning permission for and deliver on our promises.