Jobs boost as Coventry’s first retirement village launches
A £44m high-rise development scheme for the retired is to open in Coventry this week, creating around 35 jobs.
The 10-storey Earlsdon Park Retirement Village, an integrated care and housing scheme designed by architects Nicol Thomas, comprises 262 one and two-bedroom apartments – 101 for sale and 109 for shared ownership.
The development, close to the city centre and on the site of the former Butts Technical College, is a partnership between ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Coventry City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency, which contributed £1.45m.
Construction work by Galliford Try started at the village two years ago and has provided more than 200 construction jobs.
Around 35 village staff have been recruited locally to support the on-site care, hospitality, housekeeping and leisure services.
As the charity’s first retirement village in its native Coventry, the village marks a milestone for ExtraCare which was established in the city in 1988 and now supports more than 4,400 older people in 31 housing developments across the region.
Chief executive Mick Laverty, the former head of Advantage West Midlands, said: “Demand for Earlsdon Park Village has been strong with over 2,100 households registering their interest. Over the past two years our staff have enjoyed working with local older people, volunteers, families, schools and neighbours to build a sociable community hub that will welcome both residents and visitors as it opens.
“We believe Earlsdon Park Village offers Coventry’s older people secure and comfortable homes, care if they need it and an active lifestyle. It’s a new kind of retirement living where older people and their friends can enjoy a happy future at heart of community life.”
Cllr Faye Abbott of Coventry City Council said: “It is so exciting to get to the opening day after seeing this fantastic development take shape over the last couple of years. We are always looking for new and innovative ways of making sure our older people are well-looked after. This partnership approach with ExtraCare and the Homes and Community Agency means residents can live independently in fantastic facilities, confident they have excellent care and support on hand.”
