First residents move into Bournville Village Trust’s innovative Extra Care scheme at Lightmoor.
On Monday the 21st of November 2011, James Redworth age 62 and Allan and Audrey France aged 90 and 86 years repeatedly, were the first residents to move into Bournville House, the innovative Extra Care scheme at Lightmoor Village. To mark the occasion, Trustees from Bournville Village Trust along with their partners The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and Telford & Wrekin Council, will welcome the residents to their new home and officially open the scheme for business.
At a cost of £10.9 million, Bournville House itself forms part of the wider initiative being led by Bournville Village Trust in partnership with the HCA to create a sustainable community at Lightmoor. Having successfully secured grant funding from the HCA and Telford & Wrekin Council, Bournville Village Trust has designed and delivered one of the most impressive Extra Care schemes in the country with the support of Worcester based developer Thomas Vale.
The scheme offers 59 self-contained 2 bed, 3 person apartments and a range of high class community facilities including bistro, hair salon, gym, craft room, communal lounge and fully landscaped gardens. The facilities are complimented by an on-site care and support service and are designed to help older people stay well and independent.
Each flat has been fitted out to the highest standards and promises to set the standard for Extra Care within the region and nationally.
John McNulty, Director of Development at Bournville Village Trust said:
“We are excited by the high quality and unique design of Bournville House and it makes a positive addition to the Trust’s Lightmoor development. I am proud to be associated with the development of a scheme which brings a much needed facility to Telford. Demand for accommodation at Bournville House has been overwhelming and all of the 59 apartments should be occupied early in the New Year. The scheme also brings with it valuable employment opportunities for care and support staff from the region which in turn will support the local economy. Telford & Wrekin Council have commissioned Accord Care & Support to provide the care and support services to residents at Bournville House”
Cllr Liz Clare, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said:
“I am privileged to be part of the unveiling of the plaque to commemorate the opening of Bournville House. This is a very exciting moment for Lightmoor and Telford. Extra Care is an new type of service for older people that combines high quality housing with excellent, flexible care and support. With its wonderful location and well designed services Bournville House looks set to fulfil the promise of Extra Care to its residents, and to the wider community.”
Helen Wilkes, area manager for the HCA Midlands said:
“We are really pleased to have supported BVT and the Council to deliver this fantastic scheme. Our investment into Bournville House will give many of the Borough’s older people the opportunity to live independently in a high quality home with a great set of facilities on their doorstep and become a part of the growing community in Lightmoor.”
With Bournville House open, Lightmoor Village continues to grow as a community. Plans are underway for a children’s’ nursery, doctors and dentist surgeries and possible local convenience store. Discussions are also underway for a piece of public art that will take centre stage in the Village Centre. Pam Brown, Curator at the Ironbridge Open Air Museum of Steel Sculpture, has been working with Bournville Village Trust to procure a piece of public art that will signify the legacy of Bournville Village and George Cadbury in Lightmoor.