<p>Guild Living, Legal &amp; General’s retirement housing business, has submitted plans for its “later-living” development in Walton-on-Thames.</p><p>The L&amp;G division is turning a former retail site close to the town centre into a scheme offering tailored care and facilities designed for independent living and to “reinstate older people back into the heart of the community”.</p><p>Guild Living intends to deliver 193 modern apartments with facilities including a wellness centre and gym which will be available to the public to encourage “connectivity” within the local community.</p><p>The business said it wished to provide much needed housing for the ageing population as well as encourage downsizing “to free up family homes”.</p><p>The planning application also includes 26 care suites and three care residencies for those leaving hospital, helping to relieve strain on local NHS services, Guild Living said.</p><p>L&amp;G and Guild Living recently announced a research partnership with the University of Bath to explore the impact of loneliness on the older population. </p><p>Eugene Marchese, Guild Living’s founder and design and innovation director, said: “It has been great to meet so many local residents and have the chance to talk in detail about our vision for reinstating older people back into the heart of communities. There has been …