THE COMPANY behind a new £11 million retirement complex in Otley says interest from potential residents is at an "all-time high".

Developer Adlington, part of Gladman Care Homes, is creating a block of 48 independent living flats on the former All Saints Middle School site on the corner of Bridge Street and Mill Lane.

The luxury riverside development will feature a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments for the over-65s, along with a hairdressers, a restaurant, spa, function and activity rooms, and a lounge.

Although not due to be completed until autumn, 2016, Adlington says the scheme is already attracting enquiries from retirees who are looking to 'downsize'.

The proposal was only approved by Leeds planners following an appeal and Adlington, aware of local sensitivities, says it is will be protecting many of the important trees on site and planting new ones.

Marketing manager, Claire Reede, said: "Wherever we build, we take a great deal of care and consideration into the local environment and our development's exterior appearance will reflect that of the surrounding area.

"The long-term maintenance of the trees and landscaping on the site will be assured by way of a legal agreement with Leeds City Council."

The company will also offer residents the choice of having 24 hour on-site care when it is needed, provided by its partner MHA (Methodist Homes).

And it says the complex will boost local employment.

Ms Reede added: "We're pleased we will soon be creating in excess of 25 local employment opportunities in a variety of disciplines within our development, and we are also working hard to keep the build programme on track for October, 2016.

"Interest is already at an all-time high, with many enquiries coming in on a daily basis.

"We are therefore encouraging all would-be purchasers to be in a position to proceed with a purchase ahead of our official release date in order to gain the pick of the plots."

Residents, backed by MP Greg Mulholland (Lib Dem, Leeds North West), had campaigned for the popular Dunnies Wharfe View cafe that stood on the edge of the development site to be retained.

But the owners sold up and the cafe, along with the adjoining Wharfe View News, was demolished in April.

McCarthy and Stone Retirement Lifestyles Ltd, meanwhile, is also hoping to build a 35-flat, four-storey block on the nearby Garnett Wharfe development.

The company submitted plans for the former Garnett Paper Mill site – where David Wilson Homes is building 235 new homes – to Leeds City Council in the summer.

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