A pensioner with mobility issues believes a proposed retirement village will be “the answer to his prayers”.

Developers McCarthy and Stone plan to replace four homes in Hempstead Road, Kings Langley, with a 40 unit retirement complex.

More than 1,200 villagers have signed a petition in protest to the plans over fears the wild-life rich conservation area adjoining the site will be “ruined”.

Hemel Hempstead MP Mike Penning has also voiced disapproval over the project and was handed the petition last week, as Dacorum Borough Council is set to make a ruling on the plans during the next couple of months.

However, Chris Skinner, of Toms Lane, says the new complex will make the area more “accessible” – particularly as his 80-year-old wife uses a mobility scooter to get around.

The 83-year-old said: “My wife and I have lived at the lower end of Toms Lane for more than 57 years and during that time we have raised a family and gathered many friends.

“We love where we live but as time goes on we may have to down size. As a result, the proposed development would be the answer to our prayers, as we would not have to move and lose the life we have built here.

“At present the hill at the bottom of the lane is no place for mobility scooters but moving to the proposed site would enable my wife to use her scooter to get to the shops and I would not have to struggle up the Toms Lane Hill.”

Paul Rees, who has campaigned against the development, believes there is already "ample provision" for older people in the town.

He said: "Kings Langley already has ample provision for older residents - with six developments for older people within one mile of the High Street, with a number of these having had substantial vacancies over the last few months.

"McCarthy and Stone's housing complex would be at the upper end of the market and the 40 proposed flats would be advertised across the country. Therefore many of the people who would buy the properties would come from outside the village.

"This development - which would have a hugely detrimental impact on our village - is vehemently opposed by the community, which is why 1,200 people signed our petition, with 90 per cent of people - when we knocked door-to-door - gladly signing it."

A spokesperson for McCarthy and Stone said the Retirement Living apartments will “encourage” older people to still live an active and independent life.

They said: “Our plans would provide a specialist form of housing that would help to meet an identified and growing need in the area. We believe that our proposals fill a gap in the market that is not met by the existing older people’s housing in Kings Langley.

“These homes are different to care homes, which provide daily assistance throughout the day: Retirement Living apartments, which is the modern form of sheltered housing, encourages homeowners to continue living an active and independent life, whilst also enjoying the privacy they enjoyed in their previous homes.

“The majority of homeowners moving into our developments already live in the local area, have friends and family here, and are active members of the community. By downsizing into a development also in Kings Langley, older people already have those existing connections and relationships, which makes moving home that little bit easier. This also allows those houses released back into the market being available to families.”