Construction begins on extra care housing inspired by Pottery heritage

An extra care housing site under development, in Chesterfield, has welcomed its first visitors to see how building work is progressing.

The 55-apartment Potters Place, named to reflect the area’s pottery history, is part of a £22.6m project being developed by Chevin Housing Association in collaboration with Derbyshire County Council.

Scheduled to open in 2014, Potters Place will support adults with care needs who wish to maintain an independent lifestyle, with a vision to focus on individual abilities and inclusion, inspiring a sense of community and respecting personal dignity.

Managing director of Chevin Housing Association, Amanda Garrard, comments: “This is a major development for the Together Housing Group and one we are immensely proud of.

“We have considerable experience in developing and managing extra care housing and believe that extra care is a really valuable housing choice for older people. We can’t wait to open the doors of Potters Place and welcome our first residents in.

“It’s very exciting to see the drawings starting to become a reality and nice to be able to share this with some of the County and Borough Councillors.

“The visit also gave us the opportunity to explain the great work that our contractor partner, Willmott Dixon is doing to engage with local communities, as well as the boost the project is giving to the local economy.”

Cabinet member for adult social care, councillor Clare Neill, also spoke highly of developments, saying: “Potters Place will offer high quality facilities and support that will enable local people to live independently.

“It forms part of our plan to provide a mix of extra care apartments and residential care across the county.

“I am particularly pleased that Derbyshire County Council staff will be providing the care on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“This will be our fifth extra care scheme in the county.”

Potters Place will open in the spring of 2014, with two further schemes in the planning stage that will open later in the year.