Plans for new Coventry Retirement Village unveiled
Tuesday 22 January 2013
A multi-million pound retirement village just five minutes from Coventry city centre is set to be created.
ExtraCare Charitable Trust is behind the proposed scheme be located on the site of the former Coventry Technical College at the Butts.
Occupying three acres of a newly-created re-development area, the site also offers a refurbished theatre, proposed restaurant, Premier Inn, food store and café.
Extracare currently runs operates three smaller housing developments in Coventry at Whitley, Binley and Canley.
But the planned development at Earlsdon Park would be the biggest so far, containing 262 self-contained apartment homes and creating approximately 100 jobs.
They would be situated around a vibrant community centre, which would include a well-being suite, restaurant, library, café bar and lounge, IT suite, hairdressing and beauty salon, gym, craft room, and an external bowling green.
Care would be available to residents, delivered by ExtraCare's dedicated staff team. A well-being service and specialist dementia centre would also be located within the Village Centre.
A planning application on the ambitious development is set to be decided in the spring and if successful, construction could start later this year and completed in 2015.
Mark Curran, ExtraCare's Development Director, is thrilled with the proposed development.
He said: "ExtraCare is based in Coventry and we've worked successfully here for 25 years with smaller housing schemes.
"To be able to develop this pioneering project within our home city is something we are very excited about."
Councillor Ann Lucas, Coventry City Council's Cabinet Member for Health and Community Services, welcomed news of the scheme.
She said: "Extracare has an excellent history of helping older people to enjoy a healthier, active and more independent lifestyle in a community that represent an alternative to the traditional care home.
"It is wonderful that they are now looking to invest further in the city an offer an alternative that is not currently available in the city."
Anyone over the age of 55 living in Coventry will be able to apply for either a rental or purchase home within the proposed Village.
ExtraCare will seek to ensure that Village homes and care services are affordable for all, irrespective of financial means or frailty.
Anyone wanting to register an interest in the new development should telephone 0870 777 4800.
