Former Walsall print works set to be demolished

The former Millington York store on Leighswood Road in Aldridge will be replaced by a three-storey building for retirement homes.

The site was bought by retirement home specialists McCarthy and Stone who later received planning permission to demolish the print works and construct the homes.

Work will begin on the site imminently and the developers, who have sites all across the Black Country and Staffordshire, expect the site to be open in January next year, with the first home owners moving in during May 2017.

Robert Monkman, the regional sales and marketing director at McCarthy and Stone West Midlands, said: "Construction is now under way at our forthcoming, age-exclusive development in Aldridge, which will comprise 35 privately-owned, one and two-bedroom retirement living apartments aimed at people aged 60 and over.

"We expect to launch the development in January 2017 and look forward to welcoming our first homeowners in May 2017."

The sale of the property was arranged by property agent Bond Wolfe. The site had an asking price of £900,000 but the agent is declining to say for how much the site was sold to McCarthy and Stone.

Bond Wolfe managing partner James Mattin said: "The owner has retired, wound the business down and instructed us to sell the site. We had a lot of interest from residential developers, as well as retailers and care home operators. McCarthy & Stone are very successful and continue to grow their Midlands interests."

Facilities at the Leighswood road development, located directly off the main A454 Aldridge bypass, will include a homeowner's lounge ideal for socialising with friends, neighbours and enjoying regular organised events; landscaped gardens with a seating area in which to relax; and a guest suite should homeowners have friends or relatives to stay.

The development will also benefit from its own house manager, who will ensure the smooth running of the development, a security entrance system, plus 24-hour emergency call points for added peace of mind for homeowners and their families, as well as a lift servicing all floors.

Maintenance of the gardens and communal areas, as well as window cleaning, will also be handled by the developers.

McCarthy & Stone is the largest developer of privately-owned retirement property in the UK.

Founded in 1977, earlier this year the firm achieved its 50,000th retirement apartment sale.