DEVELOPERS are one step closer to converting a former girls school into a retirement community after a public consultation event.

Some 100 retirement apartments have already been approved for the St Mary's Convent School site, in Battenhall Mount, Worcester.

Enterprise Retirement Living is now looking to build another 32 apartments on the site of the old junior school.

A public consultation on the second phase of the retirement community development was held at the Guildhall, in Worcester, on Thursday, July 20.

Jorge Eguiguren, director of KKE Architects, said the development will free up homes in the area.

He said: "These communities are all over the country and are becoming a necessity.

"These developments are the right things to build - for all the people.

"People who live around [the site] will become part of this community and that will release a house, it's a big trickle down."

Mr Eguiguren said they were converting the junior school house into five apartments and then constructing another 15 apartments around the building.

"We thought the house was historic and it's a conservation area, we think there's value in keeping the building," he said.

"Then there will be another 12 apartments at the back.

"There will be a little allotment for residents, we will also have a wellness centre.

"We have a rill which will collect water from the roofs and will end up in the pond."

The community will be for over-60s and assistance will be available to residents 24 hours a day, although there will not be carers on the site.

Phase one of the development went through the planning process last year and consent was received in March.

Mr Eguiguren said work is expected to start in the winter time next year and should take two years to complete.

The first phase of the project will see a restaurant, a bar, lounges, a library, therapy rooms, a hairdressing salon and a gym built on the site.