Housing 21 name Bristol's extra care housing development Bluebell Gardens

Older people’s care developer Housing 21 have this week held a ‘topping out’ ceremony and announced the name of their latest extra care scheme: Bluebell Gardens.

Located in the Stockwood area of Bristol, Bluebell Gardens has cost £8.1m, a sum partly achieved thanks to a £3.6m investment from the Homes and Communities Agency. The Lord Mayor of Bristol and a local councillor were among those who attended the ceremony, witnessing the last tile being placed on the roof with the remainder of the construction work due for completion in May.

Consisting of 51 apartments, including 10 of shared ownership, the housing scheme has been purposely designed to help those with care needs achieve a more independent lifestyle, with a range of amenities on site that will allow Bluebell Gardens to achieve a community feel, such as a restaurant, hairdressing salon and activity room.

Housing 21 are the largest non-profit care provider in the UK and have committed their investment to building 1,000 new homes for the elderly during 2011-12, while also specialising in home care and provision for dementia sufferers.

Commenting on the latest development, regional services director Simon Bostock said: ‘We’re delighted with the progress being made at Bluebell Gardens and it’s exciting to see this new facility taking shape. When complete, this development will provide local older people with excellent accommodation and facilities. It will also complement Housing 21’s other sheltered and extra care housing schemes in and around the city.’

Extra care housing is a growing and innovative form of care provision throughout the UK, with carehome.co.uk currently listing 1,546 entries as opposed to 20,736 residential care homes.