Plans go forward for purpose-built retirement village in Devizes

Plans have been submitted to Wiltshire County Council by south west charity, the St Monica Trust for the construction of a new purpose-built retirement village for Devizes. Estimated as a £30 million investment by the Trust, a not-for-profit organisation developing innovative accommodation and care solutions for older people, the new village will provide homes for more than 200 older people in a supported environment. It will include a 98-bed care home, with a specialist unit designed to support people towards the end of their life and a dedicated care facility catering for the specialist needs of people living with dementia.

The proposed 10 acre development near to Quakers Walk, Devizes will provide 109 one and two-bedroom homes in a village-style community where residents will have a wide range of specialist facilities and services including a restaurant, activity centre, health spa and gym. A new Primary Care Centre, planned to be built alongside the village, is also a key part of the proposed development.

The plans have been submitted by the St Monica Trust following consultation with local residents and the community in December last year. They recognise the rural setting of the site and include a 35m landscape buffer along Quakers walk, an area which will be maintained and cared for by the Trust.

Says Director at the St Monica Trust, Gerald Lee, “We have listened to residents and worked closely with the planning department in finalising our plans. This is the fourth development of its kind by the Trust and we know what a positive asset this could be for the local community, providing older people with accommodation solutions that help them remain independent for longer. We very much hope we can get permission to take our plans forward.”

In developing plans for the new Devizes dementia care facility, the St Monica Trust has investigated best practice in dementia care in countries across the world, looking at the latest developments in both the USA and Australia and incorporating these into the proposed plans for the Devizes development. The St Monica Trust already operates three, specialist care facilities for people living with dementia, most recently opening a purpose-built facility for more than 70 residents in North Somerset, praised as the ‘best dementia care facility in the UK.’1/2

Along with solutions for rainwater harvesting and sustainable energy, the St Monica Trust also plans to introduce a system for managing excess water on the site, retaining rainwater in wet weather and allowing it to be discharged back into the environment slowly rather than causing any immediate impact on local drainage systems.

Working closely with Bristol City and North Somerset Councils, the Trust currently provides specialist accommodation for around 800 older people in the region, in four mixed tenure developments, offering lease purchase, rent and shared ownership. The developments are available to a wide variety of individuals with more than one third supported in partnership with local authorities. The new Devizes village will be supported by 24-hour care and support teams. More than a warden service, they offer the sort of flexible support needed by many older people looking to maintain their independence in their own home, services which can include anything from domestic chores and shopping, to help with medication and personal care.


1 UK Over-50s Housing Awards 2009
2 Guardian Newspaper, 20/05/2009