A developer who wanted to build 14 homes for the over-55s is asking for the age restriction to be dropped.

Middletons gained planning permission for the site off Sheppey Way, Iwade, from Swale Borough Council back in November 2020, but says that since then it has been unable to find a house-builder willing to take on the site while occupation is restricted by age.

When the company first sought approval for the 14 chalet-style units, it told the council that the development would "provide an opportunity to improve the availability and quality of purpose-built accommodation for older people in the village of Iwade responding to an increasingly recognised need for specialist housing accommodation."

It also said: "The development would provide smaller units of accommodation for those wanting to downsize and will free up larger family homes helping to promote 'housing churn'."

The proposal was given the nod at the time by Iwade Parish Council, which said "we are pleased to see bungalows being provided for the elderly residents who might wish to stay within the village."

However, now the developer wants to drop the restriction.

Their agent said: "The applicant had intended to deliver a scheme for age-restricted housing. However, since the permission was secured, the site has garnered little interest informally which has led to the site being actively marketed with specialists RPC Land."

He continued: "RPC has provided evidence of the marketing undertaken and the response. No interest has been generated to date.

"It is concluded that no age restriction would result in offers being made and culminating in the site being built out."

In an accompanying document, Mark Linington for RPC said he had been "surprised" that the site had received no bids.

He said it became clear that the majority of those who had made inquiries had been concerned "about the restrictive nature of the planning permission.

He said: "I believe that with no age restriction the site would receive much higher levels of interest that would result in the site being built out."

The site is unused agricultural land.

Full details are on the Swale council website here.

Search for application 22/505777.