PLANS to build more than 30 retirement apartments in Cirencester have been unveiled to the public.

McCarthy & Stone wants to turn the former T H White garage in Tetbury Road into 35 one and two-bed flats, with 31 car parking spaces.

More than 900 residents, councillors and other interested parties were invited to attend the unveiling of the plans at Bingham House in the High Street earlier this month - but only 16 people turned up.

Shane Paull, McCarthy & Stone’s regional managing director, said: “The public exhibition was an excellent opportunity for us to understand the views of the local community and to receive their feedback on the proposals.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank people for their constructive feedback. We will be reviewing all the comments received and will look to address comments where possible.

“We have worked hard to ensure that our proposals act as a sensitive transition from the modern St James’s Place to the heritage assets found towards the town centre.”

Mr Paull said that following an extensive townscape study by architects, McCarthy & Stone has “strived to achieve a balance in the design of the scheme”.

He continued: “We believe that trying to replicate the architectural style of Cirencester’s historic buildings would look out of place next to St James’s Place.

"I think we have struck the right balance in bringing forward a contemporary style, but one that uses high-quality materials akin to the character of Cirencester.”

McCarthy & Stone say “a typical scheme generates significant benefits toward the local economy and community, including job creation, new investment and improving social welfare through the delivery of appropriate housing for older people."

The total expenditure generated by residents in the local economy per typical McCarthy & Stone development is £670,000 per year, a spokesman said.

McCarthy & Stone will now look to submit a planning application to Cotswold District Council in the coming weeks.

The first residents are likely to move in during autumn 2016

Anyone who was unable to attend the exhibition can visit the project’s website at mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/cirencester