Plans for new retirement complex and GP rejected

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A total of 79 of the homes would have been apartments and 28 would have been cottages for senior retirement living, while the medical centre would have included 10 consulting rooms, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Planning officers, who recommended the scheme for refusal, said there were no exceptional circumstances for building on rural land and the proposed development did not fit into the surroundings.

Peter Killick, councillor for Lingfield, said the proposed development was “unnecessary” as it would mean an “over provision of retirement homes in the location”.

“To have a retirement village at the entrance would affect the rural character forever,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Sal Qureshi said the plans would have secured the GP practice for “potentially the next 50 years”.

He added it would have attracted GPs, trainees, nurse trainees and other clinical staff.