A CONSTRUCTION company has hit out at objections to their proposed retirement village and claimed the whole development will create 130 jobs.

The association, Highwood Homes, are developing a retirement village including a 40-bed care home, 42 care suites and 91 close care apartments (CCAs).

The proposed retirement village sits on the North Stoneham Park development which is claimed to introduce 130 jobs to the community.

Objections to the proposal included concerns of the area's character, development and traffic.

Now, Highwood Group have hit back at the claims.

Simon Beech, Land and Sales Director, said: “Outline planning consent for the proposed care village at North Stoneham Park was granted as far back as January 2016 following a successful application for a site that had already been allocated in Test Valley Borough Council’s Local Plan.

"Highwood Group is delighted to be working with our trusted care partner, Cinnamon Retirement Living, which is dedicated to meeting the demand for high quality care for the elderly. The new care home will be a state-of-the art, landmark building that offers flexible, on-demand care and support in a secure, socially stimulating setting to help residents maintain a degree of independence and improve their quality of life.

"Forming part of the wider North Stoneham Park community scheme, the care village scheme is designed to cater for the needs of all residents, with nursery and primary schools, a great range of family housing, community facilities and jobs at the local centre’s new shops and offices.

"The need to provide superior housing and care for the elderly is integral to our commitment to cater for all, particularly given the context of an ageing population."

Mr Beech added: "The project has received considerable support from St Nicolas Church at North Stoneham and confirmation that it will also create up to 130 full-time equivalent jobs will naturally come as a welcome boost for the local community. We’re also developing a new road that will provide direct access to the fishing lakes and further enhance the quality of the Park’s wider infrastructure.

"By creating this prestigious new care village, we’re not only meeting the needs of our local elderly population, but we’re meeting the commitments of the North Stoneham Park masterplan, which "received wholehearted consent from the planning committee and remains on track for delivery by Highwood.”