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The last brick of a new independent living extra care housing facility in Old Woking was laid at a topping off ceremony on Tuesday (16 February), attended by The Mayor of Woking, Cllr Beryl Hunwicks, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, Cllr Debbie Harlow and Director of Willmott Dixon London & South East region, Ian Edwards.
Situated on the site of a former car dealership, the four-storey residence, named Hale End Court, will provide 48 new one and two-bed flats, for older occupants. It will be equipped with everything that its residents require to enable them to continue living independently.
Each flat will have its own fully equipped kitchen. Alternatively there will be a separate commercial kitchen able to provide meals for those who choose not to cook for themselves as well as communal living and dining rooms. Patio doors open out onto a communal courtyard and a first floor terrace, providing plenty of opportunity for socialising and recreational activities in the fresh air. An on-site salon will also be created to meet creature comforts, and mobility scooter charging ports installed.
All of the homes will be fully accessible and appropriately modified for secure living with devices such as door buzzers, accessible bathrooms and emergency pull chords fitted as standard. The facility will be the tenth supported living facility in Woking Borough Council’s portfolio of affordable independent living dwellings.
Cllr Debbie Harlow, Woking Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “It is exciting to see this much-needed facility taking shape and I extend my sincere thanks to contractors, Willmott Dixon for their hard work throughout a very difficult year, which has allowed the building to progress so well.
“With the average age of the population rising steadily, the creation of independent living facilities such as Hale End Court is absolutely vital to allow more borough residents to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible. These fully equipped, modern, yet affordable, dwellings will provide safe and comfortable homes for some of our most vulnerable residents, with the additional peace of mind that help is never far away should they require it.”
Ian Edwards, Director, Willmott Dixon London & South region, commented: “Hale End Court is a fantastic scheme which upon completion will give its new residents a sense of community and a place to call home. We are excited to reach this pivotal landmark in the project and delighted to be working with Woking Borough Council to support them to deliver much needed extra care housing to the area.”
The development remains on schedule for completion by September 2021. For more information and to see drone time-lapse footage of the development site, visit woking.gov.uk/oldwokingindependentliving