The 180-home affordable retirement scheme opens in the Newtown
area of the City during spring 2013. A partnership between
Birmingham City Council and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, the
£22m Village represents a major investment in the well-being of
Newtown's older people and forms a part of the area's ambitious
regeneration programme for housing, schools and sports
facilities.
With over 200 households already registered for the scheme,
partners are confident that the Village's 80% rental and 20%
purchase homes will be taken up soon after applications open next
year.
Properties will surround a community-based Village Centre with a
wide range of facilities including a gym, restaurant, craft room
and woodwork area. Assessed care will be available in the Village
for those who need support - up to an equivalent level found in a
nursing home.
The Village is providing over 50 ExtraCare jobs locally and an
additional 36 funded trainee and apprenticeship roles on the
construction site with community regeneration specialists Frank
Haslam Milan (FHM).
Other partners who have contributed to the scheme's development
are Urban Living (£2.4m), The Homes and Communities Agency (£6.4m)
and The Department of Health (£3.2m).
Councillor John Lines, Cabinet Member for Housing, comments:
"We've already had a lot of interest from our older people in this
retirement village, our second with The ExtraCare Charitable Trust,
and I'm delighted to be here today to mark progress with the burial
of this time capsule.
"Newtown is an area in which the Council has worked very hard with
many partners to deliver regeneration in tough economic times. As
well as this village, we are building a new school, new council
housing and with the success of the nearby Crocodile Works
development, we are proud of the changes in Newtown.
"I want to thank the Government for its funding towards this
scheme and for their faith and trust in Birmingham to get the job
done."
David Rhead, Area Manager for the HCA Midlands, said: "Pannel
Croft is an important part of the wider regeneration of Newtown,
where our joint investment has generated good momentum to enable
The Extracare Charitable Trust to commit to delivering this
important scheme for local people. Today's event is a great way to
reward the community around Pannel Croft, who have been involved
and supportive of the changes in their area."
Nick Abbey, Chief Executive, The ExtraCare Charitable Trust said:
"I believe this second village demonstrates our charity's ongoing
commitment to provide affordable and innovative housing that will
support older people across Birmingham, especially here in Newtown
as part of the area's exciting regeneration plans.
"Planning has recently been awarded for a third village in Hagley
Road and we expect to announce proposals for further Birmingham
villages as the year continues."
Pannel Croft is the second of five proposed villages across the
City, a £200m development partnership between Birmingham City
Council and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust. The first 260-home
Village, New Oscott (developed with Midland Heart), opened in March
2010 and is now oversubscribed. A third 241-home village, off
Hagley Road in Harborne, received planning permission in January
2011and construction begins in Autumn 2011 for opening in Spring
2014.
Contacts
Richard Tower, ExtraCare PR Manager.
M: 0772 055 3658. richard.tower@extracare.org.uk
Belinder Kaur Lidher, Media Officer, Birmingham City
Council.
T: 0121 303 6969. M: 07766 922814
belinder.lidher@birmingham.gov.uk
-Notes for Editors-
Fundraising for the Village Centre
Pannel Croft Village Centre will provide a social hub for
local older people - especially those who suffer isolation or have
limited means. This Village Centre requires £2m funding through
ExtraCare's Smile Appeal - an appeal which is helping to fund five
ExtraCare Village Centres, regenerating older peoples' involvement
in community life across the City. For more information about The
Smile Appeal, please contact Alison Whittingham on 024 76
506011. alison.whittingham@extracare.org.uk