RETIREMENT property specialist McCarthy and Stone has “acquired an interest” in a block of flats in Canford Cliffs.

The Bournemouth-based firm has written to people living close to the Carisbrooke building ahead of a meeting it is holding on Thursday (July 11).

It said it was in the “very early stages” of drawing up plans for assisted living apartments on the site.

Carisbrooke in Canford Cliffs Road is made up of 17 flats and was built in the 1960s.

At the end of June McCarthy and Stone wrote to people living in the area inviting them to a “workshop event” next week.

“Having acquired an interest in this land and following liaison with residents within the existing apartment buildings we are in the very early stages of progressing proposals for specialist ‘Retirement Living Plus’ accommodation at the site,” the letter says.

“We are committed to engaging with the local community regarding these proposals and will be commencing a community consultation programme over the coming months.

“The aim is to inform local people and to obtain feedback which, where possible, can be incorporated into the final proposals.”

Retirement Living Plus accommodation provides a round-the-clock staff presence on-site providing support to residents through a partnership with the not-for-profit Somerset Care Group.

The letter says the firm will put together more detailed plans in the following months based on feedback it receives on Thursday.

Its regional managing director Shane Paull said a public exhibition would be held once these had been produced.

"We are at the very early stages of exploring options to redevelop this site with much-needed extra care accommodation," he said.

"In the first instance we are looking forward to engaging with close neighbours to the site to understand their views and receive feedback which will be considered as we develop our plans further."

In a statement the firm said the development would have a bistro restaurant for its residents along with communal leisure spaces.

It said it hoped to submit a planning application in the autumn.