First phase of £100m retirement complex completed in Stoke

WORK on the first phase of Stoke-on-Trent’s largest retirement village has been completed.

The Willow Barns development in Blurton is the first of three sites being built as part of a £100m PFI extra care housing project for the over-55s.

When complete the three sites will deliver a total of 390 apartments.

PRP has designed the three retirement villages, each with its own identity and containing a wealth of communal facilities, including extensive landscaped gardens.

Willow Barns is the smallest of the three developments, providing 75 homes.
 
Graham Locke, director at PRP, said: “It is great to see Willow Barns completed. This is a stunning development, which was broken down creating three linear ‘barns’, each detailed to reflect the original farm buildings, and then linked by glazed bridges.

“This approach ensured that this significant development sat comfortably within an existing residential neighbourhood, with the farm buildings being sympathetically restored to provide a range of communal facilities for residents as well as older people in the wider community.
 
“We look forward to working with (Stoke-on-Trent) Council, Sapphire Consortium, and other partners to ensure the successful delivery of the next phase of the development.”
 
The scheme is being developed by the Sapphire Consortium, a consortium appointed by Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The consortium is a partnership between Your Housing Group, Eric Wright Group and Kajima Partnership, which will run the three villages over 25 years. Willow Barns will be managed by housing provider, Your Housing Group.