Construction completed on £7m Shropshire care home scheme
CONSTRUCTION has been completed on a new £6.9m care home in Oswestry that will employ more than 100 people and support economic regeneration in the market town.
Coverage Care Services was presented with the keys to New Fairholme by construction firm, Castlemead Group, and the project’s financier, RBS.
The landmark building on Shrewsbury Road boasts 88 large en-suite bedrooms, extensive communal and dining areas and private gardens. It has been designed specifically to meet the needs of predominantly older people as their care requirements change, which will include nursing care and support.
Construction began on the site in October 2011 and has been completed on schedule, ready for the process of fitting out the home for residents. The first to move in will be 40 residents from the existing Fairholme, in Morda Road, which the new facility is replacing.
Chief executive of Coverage Care Services, David Coull, said: “This is of course a very exciting occasion for us. The biggest part of the project is now complete and we can begin the process of furnishing and fitting out the building to ensure it will be a homely and welcoming environment for our residents when they move in.
“It is not just a matter of it being a bigger building than the existing Fairholme, it is important as a place where we will be able to offer a wider range of services to the community, including residential care, nursing care and daytime services all on the same site. When fully occupied the home will employ well over 100 people across a number of roles and we are delighted to have played our part in regenerating this part of the town.”
The handover of the keys keeps the project on course for the first residents to move into New Fairholme in mid-April.
Director of Castlemead Group, Joe O’Donnell, said: “Castlemead Group are delighted to hand over New Fairholme to Coverage Care as a truly welcoming and traditionally stylish home with 21st century facilities. We anticipate a warm transition into their new surroundings for residents and we are excited for all that New Fairholme has to offer them.”
Steve Shaw, relationship director for RBS Corporate Banking, added: “The development of New Fairholme is the latest key step in the improvement of elderly care provision to the residents of Shropshire by Coverage Care Services. I am pleased to have been able to provide funding for this crucial facility here in Oswestry which I know will be of benefit to many people in the area.”
Coverage Care currently operates 16 care centres in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin, all on a not for profit basis. The company employs around 1,000 staff and provides a range of care services for more than 1,600 mainly older people.
