Four prime city houses are to be demolished to make way for a luxury 50-home retirement complex which will launch in Canterbury next summer.

The large properties in New Dover Road, which are driven past by thousands each day, will be flattened in the coming months as work on the McCarthy & Stone development begins.

The development between Canterbury College and St Augustine’s Road will be a secure assisted living complex for over-70s.

As well as living space it will feature landscaped gardens, a table service bistro for those not wanting to cook at home, a salon and a hotel-style guest suite.

Plans for the scheme were originally submitted three years ago and were refused in 2019, but developers successfully appealed the decision last year.

New-builds reaching three-storeys in height will front the main road, while the site will stretch back in the large gardens of the existing properties towards the University for the Creative Arts.

Julie Ward, sales director at McCarthy Stone, said: “We are expecting high levels of interest in our forthcoming Canterbury development from local retirees who are keen to explore the many benefits of downsizing while also being a part of a connected community – and we believe this interest will only be accelerated by the pandemic.”

“We will soon be announcing more details about the development, so now is a good time for retirees in Canterbury to get in touch and register their interest.”

It is being marketed at people “who want to live their later years to the full and maintain an active and independent lifestyle, with the reassurance that support is on-hand”.

Properties are set to be available for off-plan sales next summer and the first residents will move in during the winter.

The homes to be demolished were built after the Second World War, and one was noted in 2006 as being a “building of particular significance”.

Yet in the appeal process, the Planning Inspectorate overturned the council’s refusal and rubber-stamped the project - paving the way for the homes to be flattened.

The appeal decision issued last year states: “While there would be a loss of four homes suitable for families, the proposed development would provide the scope for housing to be released back into the housing market as a result of people selling under-occupied larger properties to move into the proposed development.”

Those hoping to move into the complex next year can now register their interest.

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