Beard Construction has broken ground on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the brand-new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end of life care. The new purpose-built hospice
Bouygues UK, main contractor and developer for the Hallsville Quarter phase 3 development in Canning Town, London, has successfully completed the handover of two affordable residential blocks to One Housing, part of Riverside. Designed by Hawkins\Brown architects, these blocks provide homes for 235 shared ownership, 10 shared equity, 10 affordable
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a development site with planning permission for an 81-bedroom care home in Ewell, Surrey. The site, which was formerly occupied by the Organ & Dragon pub that was demolished in 2014, sits in a highly prominent position, at
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, secure high-end project with R G Carter on the new £20 million Broomfield Village Care Home in Chelmsford, Essex. Ahead of the care home’s grand opening in May 2024, Roann Limited has been tasked with supplying and installing the worktops and splashbacks
McAleer & Rushe has been appointed by Retirement Villages Group (RVG) as the construction partner for its latest integrated retirement community in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The new development, which brings to life the former ABC cinema site, will create 167 one and two bedroom later living apartments arranged around a
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed work on an extra care facility in Leeds. The Sycamores in Woodlesford is Morgan Sindall Construction’s second Extra Care scheme for Lovell Later Living, Leeds City Council, and integrated housing and care provider Home Group, following the completion of the Greenmill Gardens Wellbeing community in
Kori Construction has scooped a £12.2m project that will see the site of a former Milton Keynes fire station turned into a high-quality care home. Kori was awarded the contract by leading UK care provider Porthaven Care Homes after being appointed to a similar project for a client in Harpenden,
New research produced by global property consultancy Knight Frank and law firm Irwin Mitchell reveal that planning remains one of the largest challenges for the Seniors Housing market as nearly a third of councils across England remain unprepared to provide suitable housing for their ageing populations. Just under a third
Local firms invited to apply as projects bring 800 jobs to the region McCarthy Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, is urging local firms in all construction-related trades, from groundworks to cleaning and everything in between, to pitch for work as it embarks on constructing eight
The ceremony which marked the start of construction was attended by representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council, Homes England and Robertson Group. The development located off Kenmore Drive will comprise of 80 homes: 61 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent. The £20
Beard Construction has broken ground on a new 3,700 square-metre hospice in Farnham in Surrey. The project, worth £11.9 million to the award-winning contractor, will see Beard build the brand-new Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice, which provides a full range of services including critical end of life care. The new purpose-built hospice will include a low level, single storey building, which consists of 18 bedrooms with ensuite wet rooms. Each room will have bifold doors which will open out into the courtyard or surrounding gardens. This will be supported by specialist suites for education, wellbeing and exercise. High-end materials and finishes, combined with Beard’s reputation for quality and excellence will ensure greater levels of comfort, dignity and privacy for patients and their families. The In-Patient Unit will be attached to a two-storey concrete frame building. The ground floor will include the main reception and lobby, as well as kitchens, cafeteria and lounges. It will also house the main plant room, utility room and clinical rooms. The first floor will provide office facilities for Phyllis Tuckwell staff, who have been relocated to various temporary sites. The new hospice is due to be completed towards the end of 2025 and will be a much larger and more modern facility. It replaces the existing building which was built over 90 years ago and is no longer fit for purpose. With the first spade in the ground, work has begun to clear the site ready for the foundations to go in. Beard is working with the local residents and stakeholders to ensure all work is conducted safely. With limited access around the site, Beard will use a tower crane to manage deliveries and help with construction. Beard staff are also supporting the hospice in its fundraising efforts. Tom Jenkinson, Beard’s Guildford director, said: “Many of our team here live locally, so they are really enthusiastic about the difference this building will make to the local community. We are thrilled to be involved in this build, and look forward to seeing it as it emerges from this ground-breaking event. It’s a great opportunity to utilise our expertise and experience in building high-quality, specialist healthcare facilities across the region and further afield.” Sarah Church, chief executive of Phyllis Tuckwell, added: “Around 17,000 people had been cared for on our In-Patient Unit, let alone the many thousands of others cared for at home, since the hospice was launched. As demand increases, this new chapter in our history means we will be able to care for many more thousands of local residents who will need us in the years to come. Given Beard’s reputation and experience in the sector, they are a tremendous fit to build our brand-new hospice.” Nic Hoar, director R H Partnership Architects said: “A well-designed hospice has a hugely positive impact on the experience of patients, their loved ones, and for everyone involved in delivering their care. rhp has designed many hospices and this continues to be one of the most rewarding areas of our work. After the huge efforts of the project team to get to this stage, it is fantastic to be working alongside Beard to see the building delivered for Phyllis Tuckwell.” Richard Allin, Director of BAQUS said: “BAQUS are delighted to see this project commence on-site following engagement in 2018. After a long journey with the Hospice Team we had to ‘go back to the drawing board’ during the pandemic to reconsider the design and accommodate new ways of working as they emerged. We look forward to be working once again with Beard on a project that will bring so much to the local community.” Across its 130-plus year history, Beard has completed on a number of specialist projects in the healthcare sector. This includes two deluxe Signature Senior Lifestyle care homes in Caversham and Farnham, Tadpole Medical Centre in Swindon – which achieved BREEAM Excellent and a major refurbishment of the operating and patient facilities at a private hospital in Bath. For more information, please visit www.beardconstruction.co.uk. To find out more about the new hospice, or to help the fundraising efforts, visit www.pth.org.uk/new-hospice. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Bouygues UK, main contractor and developer for the Hallsville Quarter phase 3 development in Canning Town, London, has successfully completed the handover of two affordable residential blocks to One Housing, part of Riverside. Designed by Hawkins\Brown architects, these blocks provide homes for 235 shared ownership, 10 shared equity, 10 affordable rent, 50 extra care, and 37 social rent tenures. Each block has been designed to provide community podium and roof gardens, with convenient access to the Hallsville Quarter town centre facilities and local transport. The Hallsville Quarter scheme, valued at £240 million, is one of the largest regeneration projects in London. Phase 3 is the most significant phase at Hallsville Quarter, with 488 new homes handed over to date out of the 620 total, which is more than the previous two phases combined. Having delivered 146 apartments to Grainger plc in July 2023, the development will be completed with an additional 132 apartments being handed over later this year in 2024, along with 2,000 square meters of health centre to be fitted out in 2025 under a joint venture between Newham Council and the NHS. The scheme also delivers additional retail space to complete the high street. The residents and wider community have actively contributed to shaping the development, and the scheme is now showcasing its potential, providing a true community hub with its hotel, food store supermarket, cafes, restaurants and health and leisure facilities all occupied and servicing the community at large. Phillippa Prongué, Bouygues UK’s Managing Director for London and the South East, said, “We would like to express our thanks to One Housing for their collaborative partnership throughout this phase of the scheme. Together, we have created a remarkable development that provides high-quality, affordable homes and amenities that not only enrich the lives of residents but also create long-term benefits for the community. We are proud of the social value and employment opportunities that this scheme has generated so far for the people of Newham, and the collaboration with local residents and the wider community in shaping this project.” Nathan Gravesande, Riverside’s Development Director (London), added, “We are pleased to have worked in partnership again with Linkcity and Bouygues UK, to provide a total 342 brand new, affordable homes as part of our Hallsville Quarter community. This is a fantastic milestone and will help us build on the existing homes we have in Newham, one of our key London boroughs. As well as providing much needed affordable homes, the third phase of Hallsville Quarter delivers 50 Extra Care homes with support and personal care services to adults over 55 years old. Set in an outstanding London location, the new development has brilliant environmental credentials and an array of amenities. We are very excited to be welcoming customers to these new homes in the coming months”. Darren Mackin, Director of Community Wealth Building at Newham Council, said, “Hallsville Quarter is one of the defining schemes that Newham Council and partners are bringing forward as part of the wider regeneration of Canning Town to create a revitalised town centre with lasting impact on the local economy and communities. I am pleased to see that the latest phase to be delivered at Hallsville Quarter provides affordable options for a variety of existing and future Newham residents in this thriving new location and I look forward to seeing the homes completed later this year.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of a development site with planning permission for an 81-bedroom care home in Ewell, Surrey. The site, which was formerly occupied by the Organ & Dragon pub that was demolished in 2014, sits in a highly prominent position, at the junction of the A24 and Ewell bypass. Planning consent was achieved in February 2024 and the care home development will provide much-needed best-in-class accommodation for the local elderly population. When completed, the scheme will benefit from 100 per cent wet rooms, luxury communal resident amenities, balconies, and landscaped gardens. Following a competitive sales process run by the specialist care development brokerage team at Christie & Co, the site has been purchased by leading care home developer, Morrison Community Care Group, which plans to complete construction in 2026. Paul Sokhi, Managing Director at Morrison Community Care Group, comments, “Morrison Community Care has a long-standing reputation in the design and development of care homes. We are one of the UK’s leading care home developers because we are passionate about providing the very highest standard of living and service possible, having successfully done this in Scotland for over 30 years, we are now excited to bring our expertise to England. This is another step on the group’s journey to achieve our target of becoming the largest care home developer in the UK, to ease pressure on the NHS, and to provide quality, welcoming, sustainable care facilities for those that require them in our local communities and beyond. “We are delighted to announce that the Group has continued its expansion into England, and has now come as far south as Surrey, with the acquisition of this site. We look forward to bringing the Morrison Community Care product of sustainable quality care environments to Ewell, where residents can enjoy safe quality time while enjoying many amenities such as a cinema, champagne bar, spa, bistro and a private dining room.” Jordan Rundle, Director – Head of Healthcare Development at Christie & Co, comments, “We are delighted to have assisted in the delivery of a state-of-the-art care home scheme for the local community in Ewell. As is the case with many Greater London locations, the local catchment has a material shortfall of market-standard care bedrooms to meet the current demand statistics. This transaction is another example of the demand for high-quality consented development sites being robust within urban M25 locations. Morrison Community Care Group performed exceptionally well on the purchase, and we look forward to visiting the care home once it is built.” The development site was sold for an undisclosed price. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Wakefield-based granite and quartz worktop supplier, Roann Limited, secure high-end project with R G Carter on the new £20 million Broomfield Village Care Home in Chelmsford, Essex. Ahead of the care home’s grand opening in May 2024, Roann Limited has been tasked with supplying and installing the worktops and splashbacks for 27 kitchens within the luxury 137-bed care home complex. This high-end project, acting as the barrier between the residential developments and Broomfield Hospital, will feature 30mm of Cosentino Silestone Classic Calacatta worktops. Eternal, and distinguished in appearance, this design is timeless and familiar whilst also highly-resistant to stains making it durable for the new luxury care home. Focused on constructing an environmentally-friendly building, it was imperative that all those involved in the process supported this aim hence, choosing Roann Limited to be the worktop provider. After pursuing its own sustainable endeavours as well as recent success, 30 years of experience and £2m worth of manufacturing machinery to produce 15,000 worktops a year, Roann Limited was the superior choice to work alongside R G Carter on this project. Thrilled to be working with R G Carter on this project, Scott Wharton, Operations and Technical Director of Roann Limited commented “It is our first time partnering with the construction firm but with our similar ethics, we think it’s a perfect match. We are shortly heading to the site to begin installing our products ahead of its opening this spring. The care home is a crucial addition to the community and we are grateful that we get to be a part of it”. Despite being primarily a new-housing development supplier, Roann Limited continues to push its own boundaries by reaching out and providing its innovative range to other projects similar to that of the Broomfield Village Care Home. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
McAleer & Rushe has been appointed by Retirement Villages Group (RVG) as the construction partner for its latest integrated retirement community in Royal Tunbridge Wells. The new development, which brings to life the former ABC cinema site, will create 167 one and two bedroom later living apartments arranged around a central courtyard with nine lower ground floor retail units. Part of RVG’s Thrive Living collection of more connected, urban communities for an active and sociable older generation, there will be genuine connection between the new development and the surrounding town centre with street facing retail units, a publicly accessible courtyard and integrated thoroughfares linking different parts of the town. Situated on a prominent corner of Church Road and Mount Pleasant Road, the development will transform a brownfield site that has lain derelict for over two decades. Construction works are set to begin on the development this month and once complete will provide a high-quality landscaping scheme with flexible spaces across multiple levels including podium landscaped terraces. Drawing inspiration from surrounding buildings, the architecture will reflect that of the art deco cinema that formerly occupied the site, and the mid-century town hall which faces the building. In a sector leading initiative, RVG has committed to developing the site as a whole-life net zero carbon project, meaning the new community will be net zero carbon across both its development and operational lifespan. The development design will implement an all-electric heating and hot water model through roof top ASHP systems. Floor to ceiling windows will maximise sunlight throughout the 1.5-acre development and the apartments will be complemented by communal amenity spaces including a restaurant, private dining rooms, and wellness facilities. With an extremely complex site topography, including a 9-metre differential in levels and positioned above a Network Rail Tunnel, the design and construction methodology will carefully address each of the unique constraints and challenges. This contract signifies an entrance into the later living sector for McAleer & Rushe, which the business has strategically targeted to diversify their offering as a leading Design & Build Contractor. Commenting Shane McCullagh, Director at McAleer & Rushe said: “McAleer & Rushe have a long and established history of delivering homes, rooted in our origins within social housing in Northern Ireland and our expansion into the later living sector reflects a natural evolution of our capability. With decades of experience in both hotel and residential projects, including build to rent, co living, and affordable housing, we are well positioned with an enviable skillset and proven track record to enhance buildability for our industry partners. “We see the later living sector increasing in the market, to meet the needs of today’s society for modern retirement housing that centres on community and social connection. We look forward to working closely with RVG to bring their vision to life, to create and integrate an enhanced retirement community with the wider urban town setting, benefiting all in the transformation of this brownfield site.” Will Bax, Chief Executive Officer at Retirement Villages Group, said: “We are thrilled to bring Thrive Living to Tunbridge Wells and unlock a brownfield site that has sat derelict in the heart of the town for over 20 years. “Thrive Living is a step-change in the way we should think about later life. We intend to challenge the stereotypes of vulnerability, loneliness and dependency and replace them with a new narrative. Modern retirement living needs to reflect the attitudes of a new generation of elders, who want to live with purpose and embrace the opportunities of connected and sociable living, creating their own active, urban community in an existing town setting. “It’s a pleasure to partner with McAleer & Rushe; we are all excited about the opportunity to revive this space and build a vital, open community in the heart of this great town.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed work on an extra care facility in Leeds. The Sycamores in Woodlesford is Morgan Sindall Construction’s second Extra Care scheme for Lovell Later Living, Leeds City Council, and integrated housing and care provider Home Group, following the completion of the Greenmill Gardens Wellbeing community in the Seacroft area of Leeds in October 2022. The £13.4m scheme – designed by P&HS Architects – will maximise the independence of people requiring ongoing care and support, such as those with health conditions and older people. The Sycamores comprises 62 one and two-bed self-contained apartments with contemporary kitchen facilities, ensuite bathrooms and a private balcony or patio. The scheme also includes communal areas and landscaped gardens alongside a community café and hair salon which will be available for use by residents and the local community. Throughout its build programme, Morgan Sindall undertook a comprehensive social value programme to ensure the community benefited from the project. 33 apprentices were employed on the project, with a local labour spend of 75%. £2.67 was reinvested in the Leeds economy for every £1 spent on the project (figures calibrated using the LM3 methodology), while there were also over 60 hours of educational engagement. To reduce waste and save cost, Morgan Sindall deployed its Intelligent Solutions approach to alter the build sequence and ceiling details throughout the building so full-size plasterboards with no offcuts could be installed. This resulted in the equivalent of over 1,000 boards being saved. Other innovations on site resulted in 33.7 tonnes of CO2 being saved during the construction process – the equivalent amount of CO2 it would take to heat 12 UK homes annually. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Kori Construction has scooped a £12.2m project that will see the site of a former Milton Keynes fire station turned into a high-quality care home. Kori was awarded the contract by leading UK care provider Porthaven Care Homes after being appointed to a similar project for a client in Harpenden, Hertfordshire. Demolition of the former fire station building, which has stood empty since 2020 when the fire service was relocated to a new Blue Light Hub at West Ashland, has already been completed. It will be replaced by a four-storey, 75-bed care home described as ‘tranquil and settled’ by the developer, which will provide comprehensive care services for older people as well as those living with dementia. Jordan Connachie, Managing Director of Kori Construction, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Porthaven Care Homes again, to bring forward this much-needed development. “The scheme has been designed as a high-quality landmark building which will provide a safe and relaxed environment for residents, both inside and out. Residents will also benefit from a range of first-class amenities as well as main views that look out across green space. Couple this with the high standard of care Porthaven is renowned for providing, and it will be a fantastic asset to the local community.” The care home will consist of 75 bedrooms over three floors, complete with wet rooms, with staff and service facilities located on the fourth floor. Amenities include a gym, hair salon, café, cinema, activity room, community lounge, community and private dining areas, and private, landscaped gardens. Work to prepare the site got underway in November 2023 and the development will take around 18 months to complete. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
New research produced by global property consultancy Knight Frank and law firm Irwin Mitchell reveal that planning remains one of the largest challenges for the Seniors Housing market as nearly a third of councils across England remain unprepared to provide suitable housing for their ageing populations. Just under a third (32%) of local authorities still do not have clear policies in place to support housing for seniors according to new research from Knight Frank and Irwin Mitchell: Unlocking Potential – Real Estate: Unlocking Potential for Seniors Housing Development (irwinmitchell.com).This significant shortcoming in the level of planning for seniors housing is particularly worrying given the UK’s ageing population- it is forecast that the number of people aged over 65 will increase to over 15 million or to one in four of us by 2043. The new survey builds on similar research carried out in 2017, 2020 and 2022, which ranked local authorities between ‘A’ and ‘D according to the provisions in their local plans towards seniors housing.* Those local authorities with an A rating had clear policies indicating details of the required number of dwellings and care home beds and how this will be achieved together with specific site allocations for such development, whereas those with a D rating had neither clear policies nor site allocation. This year’s survey results (below) found that out of 326 local authorities in England 75 (23 %) were graded A, 100 (33.7%) were graded B, 47 (14.4%) were graded C and 104 (31.9%) were graded D. Oliver Knight, Partner and Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank said: “While previous research has shown significant progress, our latest analysis suggests that over the last two years, the pace of change has stalled. A third of local authorities are still to adopt specific planning policies and site allocations addressing seniors housing. Some 34 have moved backwards over the last two years. The appetite from investors and developers to deliver more age-appropriate housing is clear and growing. A more consistent and supportive policy environment will unlock more supply, more propositions, and more choice for seniors.” Ranking 2017 2020 2022 2024 A 32 9.7% 60 18.6% 76 23.3% 75 23.0% B 72 22% 80 24.8% 96 29.4% 100 30.7% C 22 6.7% 21 6.5% 36 11.0% 47 14.4% D 203 62% 161 50% 118 36.2% 104 31.9% Total 329 100% 322 100% 326 100% 326 100% According to Nicola Gooch, Planning partner at Irwin Mitchell, “Planning remains one of the biggest challenges facing the seniors housing sector in England. It’s now 2024, seven years since we started running this survey, and there are still less than a quarter of A graded local authorities – only 75 out of 326 that have both clear policies in place and site allocations. The number of councils not adequately planning for an ageing population remains significant. More concerningly, the rate of change has stalled over the last two years, meaning that we are failing to make progress just when the need is becoming increasingly acute.” Gooch added: “This year’s survey is released in the run up to a general election and at the end of a period of unprecedented political turmoil. Since the last report was published there have been two changes of Prime Minister, three Secretaries of State at DLUHC and six Housing Ministers. We have seen the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Act 2023 enter the statute books, major amendments made to the NPPF, and the publication of more than a dozen consultations on a wide variety of proposed reforms to the planning system.” “Against that background, the policy inertia that we have experienced is disappointing, but probably not surprising. We have seen a decline in the number of new Local Plans as several local authorities have either delayed or withdrawn their local plans as they try to get to grips with ever moving and changing government policy.” However, it is not all gloom. Despite this inertia, Knight Frank & Irwin Mitchell believe a sense of urgency over the need to get behind the sector does finally seem to be taking hold. The Older Person’s Housing Taskforce is due to report later this year, and the Government’s support for the sector has been recognised both in greater recognition in the NPPF itself, but also in the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Act 2024. LURA contains provisions which, when brought into effect, will place the Secretary of State under a specific legal duty to provide detailed guidance on how local authorities should plan to meet the needs of the elderly population. The introduction of National Development Management Policies, which sit alongside (and in some cases override) a Council’s Local Plan policies, have the potential to make a huge difference to the sector and could, if the Government chose, render this research completely redundant. There are also new entrants and increased activity in the market, with developers such as Untold Living entering the market, and rental products from existing providers, really starting to take hold. Gooch concludes: “Whilst the last two years have been extremely challenging for the sector, it is starting to feel as if the supportive policy environment that we need to enable the sector to thrive might, finally, be in reach. However, we certainly need both local and national government to take a pro-active approach if we are to unlock the potential of senior housing in England. There is still a long way to go before the necessary support is in place to deliver our population’s elderly housing needs in full. Knight Frank and Irwin Mitchell have also updated their research to reveal the fifteen opportunity areas ripe for development of seniors’ housing across England. Using a matrix looking at both the planning scores and local economic/ demographic statistics,*** the research distinguished areas where there is clear potential for seniors housing to develop, as well as those areas where local factors are creating a barrier to progress. The results are as follows: Private seniors housing accommodation – top 15 Affordable seniors housing accommodation
Local firms invited to apply as projects bring 800 jobs to the region McCarthy Stone, the UK’s leading developer and manager of retirement communities, is urging local firms in all construction-related trades, from groundworks to cleaning and everything in between, to pitch for work as it embarks on constructing eight new retirement communities across the South West. The projects, spanning locations including Exeter, Ivybridge, Dartmouth, Minehead, Truro, Padstow and Sidmouth (where there will be two developments), are poised to generate approximately 100 jobs per development during the construction phase, bringing some 800 employment opportunities to the region. On completion, the retirement communities will provide further employment prospects for local workers, including roles in caregiving and maintenance services. For the development phase, McCarthy Stone has partnered with the supply chain management specialist Veriforce CHAS to identify and recruit local contractors to work on the projects. CHAS operates assessment programmes to ensure all individuals and firms working on sites are suitably accredited and fully comply with Health and Safety standards. Where capable contractors don’t yet hold the necessary certifications, CHAS can help applicants align with industry requirements. This construction initiative represents the largest number of projects McCarthy Stone has undertaken in the region for over six years. The company has 530 developments across England, Scotland, and Wales and over 22,500 homeowners and renters, with plans to buy a further 60 sites for development each year. McCarthy Stone invites local contractors across the region in all trades to attend a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event at the Devon Hotel, Exeter, on Tuesday 26th March between 8 am -12 noon, where they can discuss the projects and apply for the work. A McCarthy Stone spokesperson comments on the new scheme: “McCarthy Stone is proud to be pioneering eight new projects across the South West that will not only enrich lives but also boost local economies. As part of our commitment to putting communities first, we are seeking to work with local businesses and extend a warm invitation to construction firms in the region to come and learn more about the opportunities we have on offer.” A Veriforce CHAS spokesperson adds: “We are looking forward to helping McCarthy Stone engage with the local construction community on these exciting developments. Come and talk to our experienced team about how you can take advantage of these opportunities and experience the benefits of working with one of the UK’s leading developers.” For more information and to register for the event, visit: https://www.chas.co.uk/lp-mtb-mccarthy-stone-2024/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The ceremony which marked the start of construction was attended by representatives from Housing 21, Kirklees Council, Homes England and Robertson Group. The development located off Kenmore Drive will comprise of 80 homes: 61 one-bedroom and 19 two-bedroom apartments, all of which will be available for social rent. The £20 million Extra Care scheme is being delivered by Housing 21, a national leading provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care, in partnership with Kirklees Council. Homes England are providing a grant of over £7 million, Robertson Group are the main contractors working with Brewster Bye Architects. Bridget Faughnan-Bing, Housing 21’s Development and Delivery Director said: “We are delighted to announce the start of construction on our first Extra Care scheme in Kirklees. The Extra Care scheme at Kenmore Drive will be a great addition to the housing choices for older people of modest means in the area.” “This development will provide homes that will enable local older people to live independently for longer and still remain within the community that they know and love.” Councillor Moses Crook, Cabinet Member for Housing and Highways said: “I am really pleased to see that works are about to start on Kenmore Drive. This is our fifth Extra Care scheme in Kirklees, including a scheme nearing completion at Ashbrow and building upon our existing schemes located in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike. This development will be another vital step in our ongoing efforts to provide high-quality, accessible housing in Kirklees.’’ Once open, the scheme will provide residents with a selection of modern communal spaces including a residents’ lounge, on-site café/bistro and hair salon, which will be available for use by the neighbouring community. Jonathan Sizer, Regional Managing Director, Robertson Construction Yorkshire & East Midlands, commented: “With a focus on supporting the health and wellbeing of residents, the development will feature attractive facilities that allow independence while benefiting and connecting the local community. As delivery partner, we will ensure that we create quality homes and facilities that meet the needs and priorities of residents, staff and the wider community. This development will be an asset to Cleckheaton and marks our first project with Housing 21.” The development is scheduled to complete in spring 2026. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
