Construction starts on care village set to bring 140 new jobs

CONSTRUCTION on a new £8m care home set to create more than 100 jobs has started.

The Bradford-based 90-bed Gateway Care Village will be constructed at the Dudley Hill roundabout at the junction of Wakefield Road and Sticker Lane and is expected to generate around 140 jobs.

With work now underway by specialist healthcare project construction team Walter Thompson and due for completion in July 2015, the development is being part-funded by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Business Growth Programme with additional support from Yorkshire Bank. It will bring a model of specialist dementia care to Bradford in its bid to become a centre of excellence for dementia care and residential care for older people with additional needs.

Care Manager Jill Kemp, one of the Gateway’s senior management team that holds a combined 70 years’ experience in Bradford’s care sector, said the “Breaking Ground” ceremony for the Gateway Care Village follows five years of planning and consultation with the dementia mapping team at the University of Bradford, Stirling University’s dementia design team, the Contented Dementia Trust and Bradford Council’s adult services team.

“The Gateway Care Village has been designed by Brierley Groom Architects for Bradford people and will create jobs for Bradford people,” she said.

“The Gateway will be so much more than a “care home” because it is driven by people who have a passion and a real knowledge for care. As the first location in the north to apply the “Contented Dementia” model we know we will have measurable outcomes to demonstrate a high level of contented living for our residents. This is the beginning of a brand new chapter in Bradford’s care provision.” 

Bradford Council leader Coun David Green added: “I’m delighted that 140 jobs will be created through this new care village which will specialise in caring for those with dementia.

“We have worked intensively with the Gateway Care Village and supported them in their application to the Leeds City Region business growth programme. It is fantastic news for Bradford.”

LEP board chair, Roger Marsh, added: “I’m extremely pleased to see work starting on site on the Gateway Care Village, which will provide an important economic boost to its community. The LEP has so far provided £4.8m of Business Growth Programme funding to Bradford firms, and this project is another excellent example of how we are helping to create significant new jobs and grow the City Region economy.”

Pete Sumners, business development manager at Yorkshire Bank in Leeds, said: “The Gateway Care Village will provide much needed services and respite care for this part of West Yorkshire. It has been supported by all quarters of the community and is the perfect example of public and private sector investment.

“As we continue to see signs of economic recovery we will continue to support the growth aspirations and community investment shown by initiatives such as Gateway Care.”

Picture shows: “Breaking Ground” on the Dudley Hill Gateway Care Village site in Bradford (front) care manager Jill Kemp, (back left to right) LEP board chair Roger Marsh, Bradford Council leader Coun David Green and Yorkshire Bank relationship manager Peter Sumners.