Bernstein digs at £7.5m Heathlands redevelopment

Work has started on the £7.5m redevelopment of Manchester care home, Heathlands Village.

City council chief executive, Sir Howard Bernstein helped to break ground at the redevelopment of the home which is part of social care charity, The Fed.

The project will establish a centre of excellence for the care of older people at the home’s existing site in Prestwich.

Following an extensive tendering process, North West-based John Turner Construction Group has been commissioned to remodel the existing site, in accordance with designs developed by architects Buttress Fuller Alsop Williams Ltd.

Sir Howard said: “With an ageing population and numbers of those living with dementia on the rise, I applaud The Fed’s decision to seriously invest in care infrastructure. The redevelopment of Heathlands Village will provide excellent facilities and first-rate care for many years to come.”

Initial works will involve a complete restructure of the internal communal areas and attractive new landscaping of the external space, creating a modern communal hub for residents, their families and the wider community.

Karen Phillips, CEO of The Fed and Heathlands Village, said: “This project has been in the planning for two years and we’re very excited that it is finally getting underway.

“Breaking ground represents a significant step towards us being able to deliver the highest quality care, in a state-of-the-art environment. As the number of those living with dementia in the North West is expected to topple 100,000 in the next 15 years, the redevelopment will equip us to successfully meet future demands.

“The home’s new design will enable our residents to live their lives as fully and independently as possible.”

Heathlands Village is a five acre care complex which includes services for people of all ages.

The site benefits from a Children’s Centre, a Community Centre, as well as residential, nursing and end-of-life care facilities for older people. The latter includes a GP surgery, physiotherapist, hair dressing salon, village shop and recreational therapy which all significantly help residents and users enjoy the very best quality of life.

Work on Phase 1 is expected to be completed by December 2014.