A Coventry company has started work on the final piece in its Belgrade Plaza jigsaw – 12 years on from its first development in the area.
Deeley Construction has been appointed to complete a new £6.8 million development on Bond Street in Coventry City Centre.
The project, which will be known as Bond’s Lodge, has broken ground and is expected to be completed by April 2020.
Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities has appointed Deeley Construction to carry out the project, which has been designed by Nicol Thomas Architects.
The completed scheme will see a three-storey building erected, featuring 45 self-contained apartments for the elderly.
It marks the company’s first project awarded from Homes England’s DPP3 Framework.
It is being funded from the Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities’ own resources, fundraising, together with a grant from Homes England and a loan from the Charity Bank.
The Almshouses, now run by Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities, were founded in the early 1500s and today are both sheltered housing schemes for elderly citizens in the city.
Since the Second World War, the charity has engaged in two major projects in Hill Street, the building of Bond’s Court in 1985 and the extension of Bond’s Hospital in 2004.
With the completion of Bond’s Lodge, the number of residents will have risen from 22 in 1509 to more than 150 in 2020.
Victor Keene MBE, Chairman of Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities, added: “We have acquired the long lease of a site opposite Bond’s Hospital Almshouse, which will see 45 apartments built for the elderly.
“We have engaged Deeley Construction as the building contractor on this project and are very happy to be working with a company of Deeley’s integrity to complete it.
“Work is now underway on site and we expect it to be completed, with the flats ready for occupation, in the autumn of 2020.”
The project is the third development carried out by Deeley in the area, with the nearby multi-storey car park completed 12 years ago and the Belgrade Plaza development in 2008.
Belgrade Plaza is now a thriving mixed-use scheme, home to restaurants, residential and fitness facilities – serving the community in Coventry city centre.
Peter Deeley, Managing Director of the Deeley Group, said: “The ground-breaking at Bond Street marks an important milestone in the company’s development of the area.
“The apartments created in this development will be a vital resource for elderly people who are looking to live in the city centre.
“We’re looking forward to working in partnership with Coventry Church Municipal Charities to deliver this project.”
Councillor John Blundell, Lord Mayor of Coventry, added: “There is a clear need for more accommodation of this type in our city centre and the development on Bond Street will help to cater for this need.
“Coventry Church (Municipal) Charities have done some excellent work in regenerating properties across the city, including the Bond’s Hospital, and providing homes for the elderly.
“It was fantastic to be on hand with the charity and Deeley Construction to mark the start of building this development.”
