Back our retirement village plans or else, warns Nescot college in Ewell

That was the stark warning today from Nescot college which submitted revised plans to Epsom Council last Friday, in partnership with a senior living company, to develop 14-acres of its campus in Reigate Road, Ewell.

The animal husbandry site in Reigate Road, Ewell

The college wants to develop the land, currently used to care for farm animals, so it can raise £14m to fund renovations on the rest of the campus and bring its ageing facilities into the 21st century.

The college altered its original proposals to house 600 students on the site in the face of fierce opposition from residents.

Concerns remain over traffic, loss of open space and character, and greater pressure on health and education services.

Despite interest from large food retailers, a Nescot spokeswoman said the college wants to steer what happens there rather than just selling it off to the highest bidder.

She said: "If they do not get planning permission, they will have no other choice but to sell the land unconditionally. It is better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.

"It’s about the future of a fine educational institution, it’s about people’s grandchildren having somewhere to live and it’s about a decent way of life for elderly people."

Earlier this month the college got planning permission to transform its campus and it is under pressure to use a £7m government grant as soon as possible.

A further £14m of match funding is required to replace facilities on its campus with state-of-the-art buildings for hair and beauty, physiotherapy and construction courses.

The animal husbandry centre will be moved from its current location to a site currently used as part of the car park.

Plans for 91 homes and a senior living community in Ewell

On Friday Nescot submitted a planning application for 91 homes, with a mixture of two, three and four bedrooms, including a proportion of affordable housing.

Its partner the Goodman Group has also submitted a separate planning application for a "senior living community" with 120 units and care provided on site.

The Nescot spokeswoman said: "It’s a benefit to the rest of the community that these facilities will be able to provide on-site care.

"By supporting the college in its efforts to improve itself, the borough is in fact safeguarding that area.

"If they don’t get this done, then we will be looking at a very shaky future for the college. Is that really what the people of Epsom and Ewell want?"

Sunaina Mann, principal at Nescot, said they have talked to elected members, resident representatives, their closest neighbours and the wider public to find an acceptable solution.

Ms Mann said: "Not developing our animal husbandry site is not an option; it is the only asset we can release to raise the funds to secure the college’s future."

Plans for the transformation of the campus

She said more homes were needed to help attract workers and develop sustainable communities while there also a growing need for nursing care, dementia provision and private care units.

She said: "The plans for the animal husbandry land are specifically aimed at meeting these recognised needs and assisting the local authority in their obligations to plan for the overall benefit of the borough."

Simon Webster, managing director of the Goodman Group, said there is a compelling need for a "innovative high quality senior living community" with large communal areas.

Mr Webster said: "The wellbeing of residents will be enhanced through a combination of personalised care and life enriching activities.

"The intergenerational partnership with Nescot will enrich the lives of both the seniors and students. We look forward to pro-actively building relationships with the local community."

The Nescot spokeswoman said that she hopes the plans would come before the planning committee by early summer and construction was likely to take a couple of years.

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