New Care Village Development Planned for Iconic York Building
The iconic Terry’s Chocolate head office building has been chosen as the site for an innovative care village project by Springfield Healthcare. Plans for the listed building, which will shortly be submitted to City of York Council, will restore it sensitively, retaining its unique structure and features, while creating a ground-breaking care village in the heart of York. Subject to planning approval, it is due to open in January 2017.
The £7m development is being pioneered by Springfield Healthcare Group, which has already launched the award-winning Seacroft Grange Care Village in East Leeds. The Terry’s building will be renovated as part of a wider programme for the entire site, in conjunction with Henry Boot Developments.
The new village will provide 82 care suites and eight luxury apartments for residents, creating aspirational quality accommodation. The centrepiece for the development will be the restored glass atrium, and feature an internal market square, with cafes, street lighting, outdoor dining, shops, and other facilities. The plans will offer unparalleled accommodation for residents requiring care. Residents will be able to wander the luxurious surroundings safely, in an ambient environment which sensitively merges indoors and outdoors.
Since 2012, Springfield has been backed by BGF, the UK’s most active growth capital provider to small and mid-sized businesses. The development work for the new care village will be carried out using an additional £2.2m funding from BGF and increased lending facilities from HSBC totalling in excess of £5m.
Advisors to the project include Ward Hadaway Solicitors, Park Place Corporate Finance, Williams Property Consultants, Sagars Accountants and Squire Patton Boggs. Lead architect is Archial Norr. Turner Townsend Cost Management will project manage the development programme on behalf of Springfield.
Springfield is a pioneer in the development of integrated care facilities at the heart of the local community, retaining historical attributes through sensitive development. The Village will offer innovative dementia care, in an environment that will resonate with elderly residents.
Graeme Lee, CEO of Springfield, states: “We are delighted to be bringing this beautiful building back to life. Its location in the heart of the York community will offer leading elderly care for residents in a thriving local community.”
“The development gives us an opportunity to revolutionise how dementia care is provided, prioritising support for this challenging condition. We will provide a thriving community , which enables residents to maximise their independence and security in a stunning environment.”
The proposals were the subject of public consultation last year and were well received by local residents.
The scheme has been welcomed by health and social care partners, as dementia care will become an increasing challenge in the future.
Guy Van Dichele, Interim Director of Adult Social Care, City of York Council, said: “Our aim is to ensure that older people in York have access to a wide variety of high-quality care and support options to meet their different, and changing, needs. Quality dementia care and support is an essential strand of our ambition to make York a dementia-friendly city.”
Hamer Boot from Henry Boot Developments states: “This is another significant step forward in the restoration and regeneration of this important site. Springfield Healthcare has proven experience in sensitively restoring historic buildings and we are confident that, if approved, these plans will create a fitting gateway to the site. This development agreement follows quickly off the back of PJ Livesey’s successful planning approval last week for the multi-storey factory building. ”
Richard Taylor, BGF said: “Graeme and his team have fantastic ambitions for Springfield and it’s great to see the continued roll-out of the care village model. Springfield has already completed a number of development projects and acquisitions since our initial investment. We are delighted to be providing further investment to support the development of the new care village in York.”
