L&G argues Surrey planning refusal is ‘discriminatory’
The co-founder of L&G’s senior living business has launched a scathing attack against a Surrey council for a “discriminatory” planning refusal.
Guild Living co-founder and director Eugene Marchese said Elmsbridge Borough Council is opposed to older people living in town centres, following the council’s rejection of its 222-home senior living scheme in Walton-on-Thames.
Marchese said: “Let’s be clear: the council has no policy that says older people should not live in a location. The policy is not discriminatory, but the words and actions of this Surrey council are.
The co-founder of L&G’s senior living business has launched a scathing attack against a Surrey council for a “discriminatory” planning refusal.
Guild Living co-founder and director Eugene Marchese said Elmsbridge Borough Council is opposed to older people living in town centres, following the council’s rejection of its 222-home senior living scheme in Walton-on-Thames.
Marchese said: “Let’s be clear: the council has no policy that says older people should not live in a location. The policy is not discriminatory, but the words and actions of this Surrey council are.
“People across the country will read the words of this local authority and be shocked that, after months of seeing care homes ravaged by Covid-19, an elected body can take such a callous and ageist policy approach.”
The council’s planning committee refused the plans last night following planning officer recommendations last week.
L&G later living chief executive Phil Bayliss wrote to the local MP, foreign secretary Dominic Raab last week, claiming the decision “undermines local and national policy and is potentially discriminatory against the elderly”.
The council maintains that there is no demand for specialist care housing, over mixed-use alternatives with housing for families. However, Guild Living argues Elmsbridge faces a “worsening shortfall” of purpose-built retirement housing.
Marchese added: “Councils must wake up and acknowledge the role they must play in shaping society for demographic change. Shrugging our shoulders and putting our fingers in our ears while demanding that only young people live on a piece of brownfield land achieves nothing other than wasting public funds.”
An Elmsbridge Borough Council spokesman said: “We recognise the importance of our responsibilities under the 2010 Equality Act and we are confident that our report does not discriminate either directly or indirectly on the grounds of age.
“It does not discriminate towards the people who might occupy the accommodation, but is an assessment of the merits of the scheme considered against the National Planning Policy Framework and our own adopted planning policies and other material considerations.”
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Image courtesy of Guild Living
