CITY chiefs have given the green light for a former school site to be converted into 29 retirement apartments in Winchester.

The plans, approved by Winchester City Council, will now see the Kings School House site on Sarum Road transformed into a new retirement housing development.

A formal decision on Renaissance Retirement’s proposals to redevelop the site with 29 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people was made last week following months of discussions. Specialist housebuilder Renaissance Retirement secured its interest in the Hampshire County Council-owned site following a formal tender process in 2016, before it launched it plans last year.

Simon McFarlane, associate planning director at Renaissance Retirement said: “After 12 months of work, we’re really pleased to have obtained permission for our first scheme in Winchester.

“We’re grateful to the council for the way in which it has worked with us, particularly over the course of the last few months, and we’re keen to now start building our development, which will make a positive contribute to the city’s housing stock.”

It is expected that initial works will begin in this spring, starting with the demolition of the existing buildings. Construction of the development will take up to18 months to complete, with the first apartments due to be ready in autumn 2019.

Nick Watkins, development director, added: “Obtaining permission for this scheme in the first week of business is a great start to our year.

“We have long sought a site in Winchester and while not only helping improve housing choice in the local market, the capital generated by our purchase of the site will provide valuable revenue for the county council.

“Our sales team has already had expressions of interest in our scheme.”