The TC Harrison Ford garage in St Neots could become a retirement village if a planning application is approved.

An application to redevelop the site on Cambridge Street was submitted in October 2023. The application sought to build 57 apartments, 16 cottages, communal facilities and a car park.

There would also be a shared garden for residents in the village.

The applicant, Churchill Retirement Living, has requested a public inquiry into the application as Huntingdonshire District Council did not issue a decision on time.

The internal target date set by Huntingdonshire District Council was January 24, 2024. The applicant stated that the council, "failed to give notice of its decision within the appropriate period". 

The "appropriate period" is usually eight weeks.

A five day public inquiry is set to take place on November 5. There, a decision will be made on whether the redevelopment can go ahead.

In documents submitted by Churchill Retirement Living, it states that staff at the TC Harrison Ford garage in St Neots would be relocated to the Huntingdon site, meaning there would be no loss of employment.

The plans for the retirement village have been met with backlash from nearby residents, who feel that the development would block the daylight feeding into homes nearby.

One Cambridge Street resident said: "I fear with this development we'll be in a total eclipse."

Other concerns stem from the risk of flooding. The flood risk team at Cambridgeshire County Council object to the plans, and Anglian Water also do not recommend approval of the plans.

After the five day public inquiry, the decision on the future of the retirement village will be in the hands of the planning inspector.

The dates of the inquiry will be:

  • November 5, 6, 7 from 10am
  • November 12, 13 from 10am

To read the planning application in full, the reference number is 23/01996/FUL.