Green light for £27m Sandford care village development

Green light for £27m Sandford care village development

North Somerset Council has given the green light to plans for an innovative, high quality, £27 million retirement village put forward by west charity, the St Monica Trust, finally kicking off the transformation of the derelict site around the Old Station site in Sandford.

108 sheltered housing units, a range of one, two and three bedroom retirement flats and cottages will now be constructed on the site, along with a wide range of services and amenities that have proved so popular with residents at other St Monica Trust developments. A restaurant, activity centre, health spa and specialist gym are just some of the facilities planned for residents, many of which will be available to older people living locally in their own homes as well as to those living on site. Residents will also be able to take advantage of a tailored programme of support to help them maintain their independence, such as help with general household jobs, assistance with bathing or dressing or managing medication.

Says St Monica Trust Director, Gerald Lee, “We are absolutely delighted to get the go-ahead on this project which we are confident will deliver a much needed resource for older people in North Somerset and are pleased to be working in partnership with the local authority.

Central to the development is the restoration of the historic station buildings, all of which the St Monica Trust plans to repair and refurbish. In particular, the development will see the old station building restored to its former glory in a way that the Trust hopes will provide an important amenity for local people.

Confirms Mr Lee, “This is a lovely building and we hope it might provide a facility for local people interested in the history of the railway line, perhaps as a museum or a rest area for Strawberry Line walkers.

Adjacent to the retirement care village the Trust is also planning to build a separate single-storey, self contained care facility, providing specialist accommodation for up to 71 people.

The St Monica Trust hopes that work to develop the site, which it is estimated will cost in the region of £27 million, will start as early as April, with first homes for new residents available in 2009.