Landowners with sites for sale could cash in on the elderly care boom. Demand for land from retirement developers is at an all-time high as they seek to build nursing homes and care villages, believes property consultancy Savills.

Simon Horan, of the residential team at the Birmingham office, says: "Some landowners have been disheartened by the recent downturn in the economy, which has seen a slowdown in the housing market.

"Nursing home and care village operators could prove to be the white knight. This is one sector that has not been affected by the credit crunch; operators are able and prepared to pay residential type values for suitable plots."

Planning prospects are also better for this type of scheme as local authorities are less resistant to such specialised developments. And with permission in place, any development land is worth more.

"Planners are very sympathetic to the use of land for care and nursing accommodation. Whilst they may rule out residential use in favour of employment use, nursing homes and care villages create jobs, to can satisfy their criteria," adds Simon.

Communities were also more likely to favour a retirement scheme as a neighbour.

"Let's face it, who wouldn't rather have a care facility along their road than a factory?"

Operators are looking for different types of sites from under an acre for a typical home up to 40 acres for a full retirement village.

Particularly good are suburban sites or those on the edge of towns, and demand is not just from the private sector, including the growing number of overseas operators. Housing associations and charities are also boosting demand.

"As more players move into the market, we could even see bidding wars for some of the best sites," he concludes.