Future residents lay roof tile on new Birmingham retirement village

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities, Development

Birmingham residents Milton and Rosita Codrington joined Cllr Steve Bedser (all pictured) to lay a final tile on the roof of the City’s second retirement village.
 
Opening this November, the £22 million village in Birmingham’s Newtown is the second of five being developed in a partnership between The ExtraCare Charitable Trust and Birmingham City Council.

The Homes and Communities Agency has invested nearly £9m into the scheme with a further £3.2m coming from the Department of Health.
 
During construction, the Village is providing 16 trainee and 17 apprenticeship roles on the construction site with community regeneration specialists Frank Haslam Milan (FHM).

Once open, the Village will provide around 30 jobs, most recruited locally.
 
Pannel Croft Village will provide 180 one and two bedroom apartments for more than 200 local residents over the age of 55.

Each apartment has its own front door, hallway, one or two bedrooms, living room, shower room and kitchen. The majority of homes have their own balcony, and all homes are fully accessible.  
 
With part-purchase homes priced from £57,475 (for 50 percent purchase of a one bedroom home) and rental homes available to those on a minimum state pension, the opportunity to live at the Pannel Croft Village should be affordable for all.
 
The community will also provide flexible care, security and a wide range of health and leisure facilities which encourage independence and community participation.

Facilities will include a fitness suite and gym, hairdressing and beauty salons, library and IT suite, village shop, woodwork area, greenhouse and a multi-faith worship room.
 
Qualified ExtraCare staff will provide care to residents who are assessed as needing help. Subject to individual needs and a full assessment, the Village may support some residents with dementia and complex mental health needs.

ExtraCare’s award-winning well-being service will provide all residents with advice on healthy living.
 
Rosita and Milton Codrington have been attending regular meetings as part of a Village Friends Club which will also be open to local older people and volunteers as part of a sociable community hub.
 
Rosita, whose 81 year old mother is also moving to the Village, comments: “I came to look around and thought, ‘Oh yes, this is for me, it’s definitely for me!’ I hoped and I prayed a lot about it, that I would get in. I think that the activities will be great - I’m very excited.”