A developer wants to build 122 apartments for older people on a former High Wycombe reserve site – and this is what they could look like.

Berkeley Homes is currently building up to 550 homes on Abbey Barn South, which was one of five reserve sites that was released for development in a controversial move by the former Wycombe District Council in 2014.

But there is a parcel of land at the south western corner of the development site that will house Extra Care, or ‘assisted living’, homes for the over-55s, if fresh plans sent to Buckinghamshire Council are given the green light.

The plans suggest the parcel of land – which is currently woodland and grassland – could house 71 one-bed flats and 51 two-bed flats, making a total of 122 homes in two apartment blocks.

If given the go-ahead, the Extra Care homes would be accessed from First Street, which is actually part of the Pine Trees development being built by Taylor Wimpey.

The apartment blocks will be U-shaped and O-shaped, which Berkeley says offer “defensive and protective qualities” to create secluded private courtyards for each block.

Most flats will also have private balconies, although some will have Juliette balconies.

The buildings will be three-storeys high and will look like traditional barns, in a similar style to the Abbey Barn Business Centre, opposite the former ski centre.

They will also have built-in communal areas and support facilities, including living area/tea room, a communal dining room with serviced kitchen, a hair salon, rooms for activities and quiet space, on-site staff offices and rest rooms, overnight accommodation for staff and guests, assisted bathrooms and communal toilets, covered scooter and cycle stores and a bin store.

Sixty two of the 122 flats will be private, while 60 flats will be classed as affordable housing.

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To get to the site, a T-junction will be created on First Street. There will also be a pedestrian access on First Street, while a series of “leisure routes” are also being proposed to connect the new flats with existing paths.

There will also be 50 parking spaces and ambulance drop-off bays.

Berkeley Homes says the Extra Care flats will create 19 jobs, free up family homes in the area as over-55s downsize and will provide benefits to the local economy through around £1.5 million in community infrastructure levy contributions.

It is also being suggested the bus route 36, which runs between High Wycombe bus station and Bourne End, be diverted through the new development, as well as extra services provided on Saturdays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, Berkeley will also make contributions towards an on-demand minibus service that will run between the site and High Wycombe railway station.

If it goes ahead, work on building the flats won't start until after Christmas as Berkeley are still working on phase one of their plans, the residential development.

The latest plan for retirement homes is the second to be announced in a matter of months.

A new £80 million retirement village is being built on the site of the former Wycliffe Centre in Horsleys Green, which was used as a conference centre and for Bible translation for 41 years until 2013.

There are also plans for another care home - Care UK wants to build an 84-bed facility on Marlow Hill in High Wycombe, knocking down four large detached homes to make space.

View all the details of Berkeley's plans at their new Abbey Barn South website - www.abbeybarnsouth.co.uk