RETIREMENT housing has been earmarked to replace the Eastcott Road bus depot Stagecoach is selling off and residents are being asked for feedback.

The proposals have been made by Churchill Retirement Living, a British retirement property developer, which has exchanged contracts, subject to planning conditions, with Stagecoach.

Under the proposals, the depot site, which is bordered by South Street, Prospect Place, King William Street and Eastcott Road, would be bulldozed and replaced with 61 retirement apartments.

Churchill has published drawings of the one and two-bedroom apartments as well as the landscaping around the exterior online and wants the public to get in touch with their thoughts.

Anita Mayes, who has lived next to the depot in Eastcott Road for more than half a century, said: “If it’s going to be 61 apartments, you would think that means there’s likely to be at least 50 cars coming and going.

“It’s the traffic, but it will be better than the buses because they’re awful.

“I am assuming there will still be just the one entrance, which might also create issues, unless they widen it.”

Sarah Garrett, who lives to the north of the site in South Street, said: “I’m more than happy with a retirement home actually.

“There’s obviously an increasing need for them around here nowadays and there’s always going to no risk of anti-social behaviour either.

“I would be gutted if they increased traffic up and down our road because it’s such a safe road for us to let the kids play on at the moment.

“That would be a disappointment, but at the same time I understand things change with developments.”

Andrew Burgess, planning director at Churchill Retirement Living, said: “We place great importance on engaging with local communities during the planning process and providing them with an opportunity to have their say on our early-stage plans.

“We believe our proposals for this site will significantly enhance the local area and provide much-need specialist housing for older people.

“Not only do our developments offer security, peace of mind and independence for residents, they in turn free up larger, family homes for local people.

“This scheme would be built using high quality materials to a traditional design to ensure it is in keeping with the character of Swindon.

“If the development goes ahead, investment will also be made by Churchill Retirement Living towards local services and facilities such as public open spaces and to offsite Affordable Housing.”

The scheme will be exclusively for those aged 60 and above, with landscaped gardens, a communal owner’s lounge, a guest suite and a lodge manager’s office.

Comments can be left on the proposals until November 30 at churchillretirement.co.uk/planning/live-consultations, where the drawings can also be viewed.