A special ceremony has been held on the building site of an £11 million extra care scheme in Turves Green, Northfield, to mark the completion of external works.
Saxon Court is the second of two new extra care schemes being built for older people, through a partnership between Birmingham City Council and Housing 21.
Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council, was joined by representatives from project partners at the Homes and Communities Agency, Housing 21 and Willmott Dixon Housing Limited, as he laid the last tile on the roof of the development.
Saxon Court will provide 87 apartments and 8 bungalows and is on course to be complete by spring 2011. The extra care scheme will support older people with a range of needs via a care and support team which will be available 24 hours a day.
Birmingham City Council donated its own land, valued at £2 million, for free and secured £5.1 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency, to deliver the scheme which will support the housing needs of older people in the city.
Saxon Court will include options for rent and for purchase, either outright or on a shared ownership basis. It will provide facilities which can be also be used by older people within the local community, including a hairdressing salon and restaurant.
Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing at Birmingham City Council said: “I’m proud that Birmingham City Council is leading the way and providing our older citizens with more housing choice than ever before. This ceremony marks real progress for us and our partners, Housing 21, as we get closer to opening this scheme to our citizens.
“Both extra care schemes with Housing 21 are part of the Council’s larger plans to ensure our older residents are given the chance to live an independent and active lifestyle in suitable accommodation.”
Paul Spooner, Regional Director for the Homes and Communities Agency, West Midlands said: “We are pleased that HCA funding has enabled this extra care scheme to reach this significant stage and residents will soon be able to access high quality, affordable homes and excellent facilities.”
Tayo Bilewu, Director of Development and New Business at Housing 21 said: “We are delighted to see construction nearing completion. Saxon court will provide high quality accommodation in an extra care setting so that residents can enjoy independent living in a safe and secure environment.”
Eamonn Burns, Operations Director for Willmott Dixon Housing said: “The scheme is progressing extremely well. We are delighted to be working with our partners, Birmingham City Council and Housing 21, to deliver a very high quality scheme on time and on budget.”
It is estimated that the number of people aged over 85 years is forecast to increase by 79% by 2031 and by 2016, there is estimated to be an additional 17,000 pensioner households in Birmingham.
People interested in applying to live at Saxon Court can call 0345 606 6363 for rental enquiries or 0345 608 4021 for sales enquiries.
Applications are welcome from people aged 55 or over who are in need of accommodation with support and personal care and have a strong local connection to Birmingham.
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For further information contact Belinder Kaur Lidher at Birmingham City Council on 0121 303 6969, or Wendy Gornicki at Housing 21 on 0370 192 4338.
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