Building work begins on two new Solihull Lodge care homes

BUILDING work has started on two new care and support developments in Solihull Lodge.
The Upward Group, which was selected by Solihull Council to develop two schemes on the sites of the former Sunhaven and Coombes House care homes, will be building the new accommodation due for completion in Spring 2018.
The schemes will offer affordable accommodation with care and support up to 24 hours a day for older people and people with disabilities, allowing them to live independently and enjoy improved health and wellbeing.
The Extra Care development on the Sunhaven site will consist of 39 properties, including 36 one-bedroomed and three two-bedroomed apartments. The dementia-friendly scheme will be available to people aged 55 years or older who have an assessed care and support need, and may have physical disabilities, sensory impairment, a learning disability, mental health problems or dementia.
The Supported Living development on the Coombes House site will comprise 22 properties, including 20 one-bedroomed and two two-bedroomed apartments. This scheme will be available predominantly but not exclusively for adults with learning disabilities who have an assessed care and support need.
Care and support at the two new developments will be provided by Upward Care Ltd.
Councillor Karen Grinsell, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care & Health, visited the sites this week and said: “It’s great to see work starting on the two schemes, which will bring huge benefits to the local community. The redevelopments are a high priority for adult social care as they will enable residents to live as independently as possible in a safe and secure environment for as long as they are able to. I’m excited to see the buildings take shape over the coming months.”
The two developments, which have been designed by Configuration Architects, offer an alternative to registered residential care and sheltered housing and will allow residents to access specialist equipment and modern assistive technology, enabling them to enjoy an improved quality of life.
Simon Griffiths, Director of The Upward Group added: “We are really pleased to have started work on site and look forward to developing high quality housing for people in Solihull. From the outset we’ve been keen to involve local people in the developments and this will continue as work progresses, with employment opportunities as we approach opening.”