Wirral Waters will become home to a new, state-of-the-art care village, following approval of plans by Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council for a £15 million development on behalf of the not-for-profit, specialist dementia care provider, Belong.
Once open, Belong Wirral will be the eleventh village in the organisation’s portfolio and will provide class-leading dementia care and accommodation for over 100 people, comprising a mix of 24-hour care and nursing support in extended family sized households and independent living apartments.
The village will also house a range of facilities open to the public, including a bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and function rooms; all designed to promote maximum engagement with local communities. The new development will also be a conduit for access to the organisation’s award-winning home care service, Belong at Home.
Commenting on the planning approval, Belong chief executive, Tracey Stakes said: “We are delighted that Wirral MBC has recognised the value of a Belong village within the wider scheme. Wirral Waters is an ambitious, landmark regeneration project, and as innovators in the field of dementia care, Belong will create a thriving and vibrant community within it, offering a much-needed provision for later life care in the area. We will also be creating over 140 jobs in the local economy as a consequence of our new development.”
Peel Land and Property (Peel L&P) will be working in partnership with Belong to see the development through to fruition on the 500-acre Wirral Waters site.
Richard Mawdsley, director of development at Peel L&P commented: “We are really pleased that this development has now been approved by Wirral Council’s planning committee. With an ageing population, this residential project will be a crucial part of our housing offer at Wirral Waters and will help to create a thriving and diverse community.
“Belong offers an incredibly vibrant, dynamic and versatile setting for residents to enjoy, whatever their needs or abilities, and we are really excited to be working in partnership with them on this project.”
Belong currently operates villages in Atherton, Wigan, Warrington, Macclesfield, Crewe, Manchester and Newcastle-under-Lyme, with more under construction or planning phases in Chester, Birkdale and Beeston, Nottingham.
