Plans have been approved for a 141-home retirement village in Elstree despite over 250 objections from residents.

The proposals by Thrive Living will see an “age-restricted” community built on an undeveloped 5.6-acre site north of Watford Road.

Thrive Living development director Duncan Matthews said he was “delighted” after Hertsmere Borough Council voted the proposals through with 10 votes in favour to one against at a planning committee meeting on Thursday (July 11). 

“On behalf of the whole project team, I would like to thank the officers and members of Hertsmere Borough Council, who have been diligent in their scrutiny and constructive in their criticisms” he added. How the proposed retirement village could look. (Image: Thrive Living) “This has resulted in an even better scheme that will benefit our future customers as well as the economy, community, and environment of Elstree.”

A mixture of cottages and four-storey apartment blocks will be built for people aged 65 and over to buy or rent, with additional domestic support and care services for them to live independently.

Residents would also have access to exercise and therapy rooms as well as a lounge, library, café and restaurant.

The site was originally classified as Green Belt but was removed from the Hertsmere draft local plan and allocated for a retirement community.

Thrive Living said the project would increase housing supply in the area as well as free up larger family-style houses by allowing retirees to downsize to smaller homes.

Following the approval, the developer’s project team will agree on the planning obligations and conditions with the borough council to start the next stage of the project.

How the four-storey apartment blocks would look.How the four-storey apartment blocks would look. (Image: Thrive Living) The plans were met with resistance from local residents however as they received 265 objections and four comments in support.

Elstree & Borehamwood Town Council objected to the plans on the basis of extra traffic on nearby roads and the lack of additional resources such as shops.

Historic England also warned the scheme’s “considerable” height and scale could damage the Elstree Conservation Area, the grade-II Holly Bush pub and the grade-II registered Park and Gardens of Aldenham House.