Philip Dunne MP, Minister of State for Health, has visited a multi-million pound Birmingham care village development to see its innovative approach to integrating housing and health.
The Minister, also the MP for Ludlow, toured the ambitious College Green development in Bournville on Friday 24th November.
Being built on the former site of Bournville College on Bristol Road South, the care village will be home to around 400 older people once it is complete next year.
It will also house a state-of-the-art health and well-being centre, which will be a base for a number of GP practices and a pharmacy providing a range of health services.
Being developed by Bournville Village Trust, ExtraCare Charitable Trust, Avery Healthcare and the NHS, it is hoped College Green will help to alleviate a shortage of housing for older people and address multiple health and social-care issues.
It is also expected to create around 100 new jobs across the development, which so far includes a 212-home retirement village, a care home and individual cottages.
Peter Roach, Chief Executive of Bournville Village Trust, said: “One in three people aged over 55 want to downsize but can’t because of a chronic under supply of suitable housing.
“This means that many older people become effectively trapped in homes that do not meet their needs anymore, which can lead to isolation and loneliness.
“We believe what we are working towards at College Green will bring multiple services and high-quality housing together, leading to better health outcomes and a reduced strain on the NHS.
“We were pleased to showcase what we have achieved so far to Mr Dunne and hope that he will return once the village is fully complete.”
Philip Dunne, Minister of State for Health, said: “I had a very interesting visit to the College Green site and was particularly interested to learn of a study by Aston University of the impact of improved health and wellbeing of residents in care villages in Birmingham, allowing elderly residents to enjoy independent, healthy living in a supportive environment.”
Bournville Village Trust is a charity and housing organisation founded by chocolate maker and philanthropist George Cadbury in 1900.
Its vision is to create and sustain flourishing communities where people choose to live and it provides services to 8,000 homes of mixed tenure and 25,000 people.