Plans to deliver 124 much-needed Extra Care apartments in South Shields have this week been given the green light by South Tyneside’s planning committee. The much-needed specialist accommodation, to be developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, will be built on the site of the former Chuter Ede school and Ede Community Association. The scheme has been designed to help people with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently for longer. 25 of the apartments are specifically designed for people living with dementia. Zoey Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Development Delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “It’s great to have the backing of the South Tyneside Council planning committee to bring this exciting, much-needed scheme to fruition. “This project represents a major commitment from us to provide affordable, high-quality homes in the borough, a modern and welcoming place to live for residents with a number of socially-focused features to help facilitate community cohesion. “We have a great working relationship with South Tyneside’s Adult Social Care and Commissioning, who we have worked with on a number of housing projects that support adults with care and support needs. We look forward to further developing this relationship with them as we take this next project forward.” Karbon has worked with Tyne and Wear based JDDK Architects on the design, with apartments sitting across four storeys laid out around a central communal courtyard. The scheme will be highly energy efficient, with heating and hot water to be powered by air source heat pumps, with additional energy generated through roof mounted solar PV panels. The scheme will also have multi-use spaces for activities, which will be open for community groups to use, alongside a bistro café open to the general public. Bringing more housing of this type to the local authority area forms part of the Council’s wider Adult Social Care Accommodation Strategy, aimed at supporting people who may need care and support to live independently in the community. Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “I’m delighted this development has been given planning permission. “We continue to invest in affordable accommodation that reflects the needs and wants of our communities and allows people to live with dignity and independence in the heart of their communities in a place they can call home. “I’m really looking forward to watching this new facility take shape.” Karbon has appointed Robertson Construction North East as the lead contractor for the project. It will be the second Extra Care facility built by Robertson for Karbon and South Tyneside Council, the first being a 95-apartment scheme in Hebburn town centre. Its delivery will be part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the Government’s housing delivery agency. This strategic partnership is supporting Karbon to deliver 2,324 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire by 2028, 10% of which will be new homes for people requiring additional support needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning permission has been granted for a 66-bedroom care home at Vistry’s Westcombe Park development in Heybridge, near Maldon, Essex. The new facility will be operated by LNT Care Developments and delivered in partnership with specialist developer Charterpoint and Vistry, the master developer of Westcombe Park. The three-storey care home will offer a range of modern amenities for residents and visitors, including en-suite wet rooms, lounges, dining areas, a café, a sky bar, a cinema, a hair salon, and dedicated staff facilities. The site will also include 32 parking spaces, two of which are accessible, and six electric vehicle charging stations. Ambulance and taxi drop-off points are part of the design, along with 16 cycle spaces and secure mobility scooter storage and charging areas. Designed to provide both general residential and dementia care, the home will feature landscaped gardens with direct access for residents, promoting outdoor activity and wellbeing. The majority of the building’s energy needs will be met through on-site renewable sources, including ground source heating and rooftop photovoltaic panels, supported by battery storage to capture surplus energy. Giles Nursey, Managing Director of Charterpoint, said: “We are very pleased to have received planning permission to build a modern care home at Westcombe Park to provide first-class care facilities for the local community. As a specialist developer who has delivered numerous care home schemes across the country, we are proud to be part of the team creating important facilities at this exciting garden suburb and feel sure that this care home will be a key community asset.” The care home forms a central part of the wider Westcombe Park masterplan, which is designed to support residents at all stages of life. The new neighbourhood will feature a mix of homes to suit various affordability levels, and includes plans for a new neighbourhood centre comprising later-living apartments, a health centre, convenience store, retail units, and a day nursery. Martin Leach, Managing Director at Vistry Strategic Land & Major Projects, said: “The provision of a first-class care facility is a valuable addition for Westcombe Park, forming part of our wider ambition to create a well-rounded neighbourhood with the mix of homes, facilities and infrastructure that communities need. We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Charterpoint and LNT to provide this fantastic facility for the residents of Maldon.” The care home will be built by LNT and operated by its sister company, Crystal Care Collection. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Planning permission has been granted for a 66-bedroom care home at Vistry’s Westcombe Park development in Heybridge, near Maldon in Essex. The care home will be operated by LNT Care Developments. LNT has been working with specialist developer Charterpoint and Vistry, the master developer of Westcombe Park, to deliver a new state-of-the-art care home as part of the development. The three-storey care home will include high-quality en-suite wet rooms for each resident, lounges and dining areas, a café and a sky bar for residents and visitors to enjoy, a hair salon, cinema, a reception area, staff facilities, and 32 car parking spaces, including two accessible spaces and six electric car charging spaces, as well as ambulance and taxi drop-off points. Sixteen cycle spaces – eight for staff and eight for visitors – will also be provided, along with designated storage and charging areas for mobility scooters. The care home, which has been designed to provide general residential care and residential dementia care, will feature landscaped gardens with direct access for residents. The majority of energy used at the care home will be generated from onsite renewable sources such as ground source heating and photovoltaic panels on the roof, with a battery to store surplus energy. The care home forms an integral part of the Westcombe Park community which aims to provide new homes to meet all affordability levels and stages of life. Westcombe Park includes a planned new neighbourhood centre, plans for which are being advanced by Charterpoint Group, comprising later living apartments, health centre, convenience store, other retail units, and a day nursery. Giles Nursey, MD of Charterpoint, said: “We are very pleased to have received planning permission to build a modern care home at Westcombe Park to provide first-class care facilities for the local community. As a specialist developer who has delivered numerous care home schemes across the country, we are proud to be part of the team creating important facilities at this exciting garden suburb and feel sure that this care home will be a key community asset.” Martin Leach, Managing Director, Vistry Strategic Land & Major Projects said: “The provision of a first-class care facility is a valuable addition for Westcombe Park, forming part of our wider ambition to create a well-rounded neighbourhood with the mix of homes,  facilities and infrastructure that communities need. We are very pleased to be working in partnership with Charterpoint and LNT to provide this fantastic facility for the residents of Maldon.” The care home will be delivered by LNT and operated by its sister company Crystal Care Collection. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Groundbreaking construction techniques are slashing build times and transforming the delivery of retirement housing – offering a potential solution to the UK’s critical shortage of later living accommodation. With the country facing a shortfall of one million senior living homes by 2040, the race is on to develop innovative approaches that can deliver high-quality housing for older people more rapidly and cost-effectively. Leading this charge in the Midlands is construction specialist McPhillips. The award-winning company has partnered with developer-operator Untold Living to pioneer an innovative £20 million Integrated Retirement Community (IRC) in Shropshire – a county where pensioners are expected to make up more than a quarter of Shropshire’s residents by 2026. Here, factory-built components and Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) are dramatically accelerating construction timelines. The project will create much-needed flexible and supportive living for retirees in the form of 61 apartments, 15 bungalows, on-site bistro and integrated care facilities. Paul Inions, managing director of McPhillips, said: “Construction on-site at Newport is being driven by modern, factory-led approaches to reduce costs, speed-up timelines and minimise disruption to nearby residents. “This type of approach must become commonplace if we are to stand a chance at resolving the growing demand for older living accommodation and meet the seniors housing target of 50,000 units a year. “Currently, as a nation we are falling woefully short of this target and demand is only going to get higher with people live longer and longer.” Use of MMC at Newport means the large, steel supporting structures for the main apartment blocks will arrive pre-manufactured complete with windows, insulation and brick ties. Further innovation is planned for the site’s bungalows, with roofs to be built at ground level before being craned into position. This technique not only speeds up the construction process but significantly improves site health and safety. Paul added: “The apartment panels are due to arrive on-site later this month (July) from our subcontractor Remagin based in Leeds.  “Once here, the panels will be craned into position and the main apartment block structures will be erected in just 12 weeks – 40 per cent faster than if we were using traditional methods but with no sacrifice on quality. “This approach is a gamechanger for the senior living housing sector and we are proud to be demonstrating our commitment. “We’re not only helping to meet the rising demand for retiree housing, but we are also helping to address the wider housing needs in the Newport area by freeing up larger homes for younger families. “It’s a model that could certainly be replicated across more towns in the UK.”   The government recently announced £39 billion for new social and affordable housing and the Housing Minister recently noted that the “need to provide sufficient housing to meet older people’s specific needs is critical.” ARCO, the national membership body for housing-with-care, believes at least 20 per cent of this new investment should be reserved for specialist housing for older people and in particular Integrated Retirement Communities like the one being developed in Newport. Work on the Newport retirement community started in October 2024 and is due for completion in summer 2026. The innovative scheme has been designed by Gaunt Francis Architects and the project is being managed by Total Project Integration. Architectural and technical designer Michael Carruthers said whilst MMC required more upfront design work, the payoff was significant with much faster on-site construction.  “The approach we’ve taken at Newport combines the precision of factory-made components with local construction expertise, allowing us to create high-quality homes that are specifically designed for older residents while minimising disruption to the surrounding community.” Stephen Brunker, associate director for Gaunt Francis, who is also working on the scheme with Michael, added that the benefits of retirement communities extended far beyond just housing.  “The evidence shows that residents in these communities see their GPs less often, require fewer hospital visits, and recover more quickly when returning from hospital.  “This development will help reduce the burden on local health services while providing purposeful accommodation where residents can maintain their independence with support available when needed.” Once handed over to Untold Living in summer 2026, the retirement village will be named Sundew Court. It will provide much-needed flexible and supportive living for older residents, giving retirees the opportunity to ‘right-size’ into quality homes without leaving the local area. Amy Herbert, director of operations at Untold Living, said: “There’s a pressing need nationally for high-quality, smaller housing options for retirees and our Newport development demonstrates our commitment to helping to resolve this shortage. “This development will enable older residents to remain within their cherished community whilst enjoying more manageable and supportive living environments. “Here retirees can live independently but with the reassurance of 24-hour on-site care staff should it be needed.” For more progress updates on the development visit: – Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

During Pride Month, Great Places has hosted partners at an event to mark the official start on site at its £37 million flagship majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme in Whalley Range, south Manchester. Plans for the scheme have been co-produced in partnership with the Russell Road Community Steering Group, Manchester City Council, and LGBT Foundation.   Once completed, the new development, built on the site of the former Spire Hospital on Russell Road, will deliver 80 one and two-bedroom apartments for older people for social rent – over the age of 55 – and 40 affordable shared ownership apartments.   Delivered in partnership with contractors Rowlinson, the high-quality sustainable building will offer a safe and welcome feel and inviting presence whilst designed to respect the surrounding conservation area.   Acquired from Manchester City Council and funded through Great Places, complemented by its latest Homes England Strategic Partnership, GMCA Brownfield Housing Fund and grant from Manchester City Council, the low carbon scheme will also feature shared communal facilities including lounges, treatment rooms and landscaped gardens and will deliver an overall net gain of trees on the site.  Cllr. Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development, Paul Martin, Chief Executive of LGBT Foundation and Ruth Ryan, Assistant Director of Affordable Housing Delivery at Homes England were joined by Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places and members of the project team on a tour to view progress on the new development at Russell Road which will be home to the  UK’s ‘first of a kind’ purpose-built majority LGBTQ+ Extra Care social rent housing scheme.    The new homes are part of the Council’s ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes across the city by 2032 – of which at least 10,000 will be social rent, Council or genuinely affordable housing.  More than 800 Extra Care homes have been built in Manchester in recent years – with another 1,000 homes in the pipeline – to meet demand for quality, affordable housing for older people in the city.  The project is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2027. Commenting on the official start of the project, Cllr Gavin White, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Manchester City Council, said:   “This is a real milestone moment for this development. The Council has believed in the positive impact an LGBTQ+ majority housing development could have for this community for many years – and to celebrate the social rent homes officially starting on site is a great moment for the city.   “Working with the LGBT Foundation, we know that older LGBTQ+ people worry about being able to access appropriate and inclusive housing later in life. Although we hope all older person’s accommodation is welcoming to everyone, this scheme will provide safe, secure and affordable housing for LGBTQ+ people to live with dignity.   “We look forward to the completion of these homes that will complement and enhance this part of Whalley Range – and be an important part of this community.”  Paul Martin, Chief Executive at LGBT Foundation added:  “We’re delighted to be here for the official start on site of this groundbreaking project. Having been involved from the very beginning, it’s been incredible to see the vision come to life — and as time has passed, the need for this scheme has only grown more urgent.  “In 2025, with LGBTQ+ communities facing increasing pressure, safe and inclusive spaces like this are more essential than ever. Older LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately affected by isolation, discrimination, and poor health, often without traditional family support. The Russell Road scheme offers not just housing, but community, dignity, and care.  “The response has been overwhelming, and we hope this flagship scheme will inspire similar developments across the country.”  Alison Dean, Chief Executive at Great Places, said:   “We are incredibly proud to mark the official start on site for this pioneering project. This development represents a significant step forward in providing inclusive and supportive housing for Manchester’s LGBTQ+ community.   “By working closely with our partners and the local community, we are creating a space that not only meets the needs of older LGBTQ+ people but also fosters a sense of belonging and security. This project is a testament to our commitment to delivering high-quality, sustainable housing that respects and enhances the local environment.”  Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

The care home is the first development to be completed at Trafford Waters – an emerging 55-acre waterside district in Greater Manchester that will create 3,000 new homes and 20-acres of landscaped parkland and public realm. Trafford Waters Care Home has welcomed the arrival of its first residents, marking a significant moment for the state-of-the-art residential care home and a major milestone for the wider development of Trafford Waters. The momentous occasion is a testament to the collaborative efforts of waterside regeneration specialists Peel Waters, who are the master-planners of the wider Trafford Waters district, developer Montpelier Estates, contractors Rowlinson Construction and Tanglewood, who have taken over the management and operation of the completed care home. The 85-bed care home offers a calming and supportive environment for its residents, with a focus on providing exceptional care and enhancing the quality of life. An onsite salon has been designed into the scheme, offering residents the opportunity to have their hair styled and nails manicured, Tanglewood will also be working with ‘Dementia Friendly Barbers’ – a specialist barbering service for care home residents, focused on bringing dignity, comfort and vintage nostalgia to every experience. BeGreat Fitness will offer enjoyable, safe and accessible weekly fitness classes to boost residents’ mobility, independence, and well-being; whilst Myley Tours will offer residents a bi-monthly out-of-home tour and experience to a destination of their choice. Trafford Waters will also be opening their doors to the wider local community with various community events throughout the year, providing opportunities for schools, groups and organisations to use the spaces within the home to host workshops, classes and engage with the residents. The new 1.35 acre home also has a variety of thoughtfully designed ‘destinations’ and amenities for residents to enjoy including a cinema room fitted with a vintage popcorn machine; a retro inspired sweet shop, library and reading rooms, multi-faith room, and a variety of colourful lounges and garden room, all of which have been designed to encourage socialising in comfortable, safe and supportive spaces. The outdoor sensory spaces, gardens and terrace overlook the emerging Trafford Waters district and will provide an ever changing, evolving and captivating view for residents of the care home to watch over. Daniel Rowark Donowa, C.E.O, Tanglewood Care Homes said: “We are delighted to announce a major milestone in the Tanglewood Care Homes journey with the opening of our very first home in Greater Manchester, nestled within the vibrant new Trafford Waters development. This marks the 19th home in Tanglewood’s growing portfolio, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring our 24/7, year-round commitment to care, compassion, and community to such a dynamic and promising area. “As Trafford Waters starts to welcome new residents, we are eager to enrich the lives of our residents and build lasting relationships within the wider TraffordCity community, and we would love to collaborate with local groups and amenities to create a truly connected, inclusive, and supportive environment.” The first resident to move into the Trafford Waters Care Home is 98-year-old George Matrejek, who’s arrival coincided with the same date as the official opening of the new home and symbolises the beginning of a new chapter for Trafford Waters as it moves from constructing developments to building a community. George, who celebrated his 98th birthday just a couple of days after moving into the Trafford Waters Care Home added: ‘It is a privilege to be the first resident in this home and an honour to move in on the very first day it opened. The team here is amazing and lovely, I don’t know where they got them but well done, I’m very happy here.’ Peel Waters secured outline planning permission for the new waterside district which sits within TraffordCity in December 2018 and it will see the delivery of 3,000 new homes, an on-site primary school, new hotels and 20-acres of open space to improve health, wellbeing and access to nature. Since the outline planning permission was secured, Peel Waters have completed phase one infrastructure work which provides access to Trafford Waters via Trafford Way and Redclyffe Road, connecting the emerging residential district to the wider TraffordCity retail and leisure destination. £8million has been spent on delivering the essential infrastructure, which in addition to highways access includes tree-lined footpaths, cycleways, utility connections, drainage and levelling of future development plots. The completed 85-bed care home, along with L&Q’s affordable development that is currently under construction and X1 Developments’ residential scheme which will be starting on site later this year, all form part of the first phase of 376 residential properties to be built at Trafford Waters. James Whittaker, Managing Director of Peel Waters said: “Opening the first homes at Trafford Waters is a huge moment for us and to have George, the very first resident of Trafford Waters move in on the same day made it even more meaningful and impactful for us as it symbolised the start of our future community. “We have been designing and developing TraffordCity for many decades, and Trafford Waters is an integral part of our vision. This residential led new waterside side district will deliver much-needed high quality homes, amenities and public realm and will see the elderly, living alongside families and individuals within affordable developments, with a mix of young professionals, couples, renters and buyers all nearby. We have thought out every future development here, with the aspiration for Trafford Waters to be a neighbourhood that offers something for everyone. “We’re looking forward to working with our development partners to deliver this vision and we’re very excited to see the arrival of more residents to Trafford Waters.” The Trafford Waters care home is now open, with immediate availability offering residential care, respite care and dementia care, offered with an all-inclusive fee. To find out more information about Trafford Waters Care Home, please contact Tanglewood’s team by ringing: 0161 394 1382, email:  info@twhealthcare.co.uk or visit: https://www.traffordwaterscarehome.co.uk/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

A new chapter in later living has been approved for Brent Cross Town, as Barnet Council grants planning permission for a major retirement living development by Audley Group and Senior Living Investment Partners. The approved plans will see the delivery of a 10-storey building comprising 148 high-quality apartments designed specifically for residents over 60. This will mark the first retirement community within the 180-acre Brent Cross Town regeneration — one of Europe’s most ambitious urban renewal projects, being delivered by Related Argent in partnership with Barnet Council. The development, valued at £8 billion, is already reshaping this area of north-west London, with thousands of new homes, expansive office space, schools, parks, and a vibrant high street in the pipeline. With two residential buildings already completed and occupied, the community is beginning to take shape. Audley’s new scheme will operate under its Mayfield Villages brand, known for its contemporary, wellness-focused approach to retirement living. It will also be the brand’s first location in the capital and only the second in its portfolio. Residents will benefit from 17,000 sq ft of shared amenities, including a health and wellbeing centre, landscaped gardens, a village hall, and a café-bistro that will be open to the public, encouraging community interaction. The project is being delivered in partnership with Senior Living Investment Partners, a £200 million joint venture between Octopus Real Estate and Pension Insurance Corporation. Nick Sanderson, chief executive of Audley Group, commented: “Planning approval for the new Mayfield Village at Brent Cross Town is a fantastic step forward. The demand for specialist retirement living properties isn’t slowing down and it’s important we give more people more choice over how and where they live as they get older. Mayfield Brent Cross will become an important part of the vibrant intergenerational community being created in this area of London.” Tom Goodall, chief executive of Related Argent, added: “We are delighted that the first retirement living homes at Brent Cross Town have been given the go-ahead. This builds on the continued inward investment secured over the last 12 months and accelerates our bold vision to create an intergenerational community with diverse housing options. We look forward to bringing this vibrant new project to life with industry leaders Audley Group.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Pivot is pleased to announce the completion of a £4.1 million development exit facility to Torsion Care, supporting the stabilisation and sale of a completed retirement living scheme in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire. The loan is secured against 29 self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments at Royles Lodge, a purpose-built retirement development for residents aged 55 and over. The modern development sits within the wider Marsh Mill Village, a picturesque and well-established leisure and residential destination close to the Fylde Coast. The development reached practical completion in 2023 and offers high-specification, age-exclusive accommodation. The funding enables Torsion Care to refinance its original development facility while allowing time to execute a dual-track strategy of unit sales and long-term lettings. Twelve units have already been sold to date, with a dedicated on-site sales team now in place and marketing across multiple platforms. The transaction showcases Pivot’s commitment to working with experienced developers on complex transitional assets, where income stabilisation and a structured repayment strategy are key. It also reflects Pivot’s dedication to supporting schemes that positively impact local communities and provide high-quality housing. By backing developers like Torsion Care, Pivot plays an active role in delivering well-designed homes that enable independent living and contribute to long-term community wellbeing. Martin Hutson of Torsion Care, commented: “We’re delighted to partner with Pivot on this transaction. Their understanding of the retirement living sector and ability to tailor a structure around both sales and lettings gives us the flexibility to maximise value at Royles Lodge. We’re also pleased to deliver another high-quality scheme that meets growing demand for independent living options for over-55s.” Andreas Yianni, Commercial Director at Pivot, added: “It’s a pleasure to support Torsion Care, a highly capable operator with a growing track record in the care and retirement living sector. This deal reflects our appetite to fund completed, high-quality schemes and committed sponsor. We’re proud to play a role in bringing more housing to the market that is tailored to supportive living.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals