Woodwork and IT classes offered to older people at new retirement village

Plans for a retirement village in Longbridge near Birmingham have been announced as part of the town’s £1bn regeneration scheme.

The village will provide the local community with over 50 permanent jobs and up to 200 jobs during the construction process, which will cost an estimated £35m.

The retirement village, which will create 260 one and two bedroom apartments, has been designed to support the needs of older people and offers extra assistance to help them to continue living an independent lifestyle in a safe and enjoyable way.

Village developers The ExtraCare Charitable Trust has committed to arranging and running over 50 different activities to take place each week for residents to take part in alongside local people within the five acres of land the village will be developed on.

Mark Curran, development and sales director at The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, said: “Longbridge is a perfect choice for our next retirement village – it is an exciting, vibrant new community that offers an abundance of facilities for our residents. We are delighted to be part of its growth and to join the long list of facilities and high profile businesses there.

“Our exciting scheme will provide a modern alternative to traditional retirement accommodation. Homes will be modern, comfortable, spacious and affordable, and there will be a wide range of social facilities for both residents and the wider community to enjoy.”

Mike Murray, senior development surveyor at St. Modwen, said: “We are delighted ExtraCare has decided to invest in Longbridge. This will be a welcome addition to the housing offer as well as creating even more job opportunities for local people.

“The retirement village adds to the site’s variety and offers an all-inclusive community, while strengthening our aim to create both a successful business environment that delivers job opportunities and a sustainable community and destination for people to live, shop, learn and relax.”

Within the village, the facilities will include beauty salon, a restaurant, a gym and an IT suite which residents and the public will have access to.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is working in partnership with Birmingham City Council on a development programme which will see at least one more retirement villages created alongside three already opened and the newly announced Longbridge village.