Pupils joined residents, Board members and partners to mark the breaking of new ground to construct the steel frame for Driftwood Gardens, Alpha Living’s largest affordable extra care development on the Wirral.
Specialist housing provider Alpha Living’s £18.5m development is delivering 80 much-needed affordable homes on Pasture Road in Moreton as part of an innovative regeneration partnership, with new Alpha Living Board members, Vice-Chair Tony Muir and Veronica Cuthbert who enjoyed a tour of the development site.
Children from Eastway Primary School joined the intergenerational launch, alongside Cllr Mark Skillicorn, Chair of the Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee and Cllr Sue Powell-Wilde, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee for Wirral Council. Jayne Marshall, Assistant Director – Strategic Commissioning and Integrated Partnerships for Wirral Council also attended the launch, with care and support at Driftwood Gardens being commissioned by Wirral Council. Allocations will also be managed via the Council, ensuring the maximum benefit is delivered for the people of Moreton and surrounding areas.
The scheme will provide high quality, affordable one and two-bed apartments for over 55s and will be ready for occupation by the Summer of next year. The new housing offer will help to build and sustain communities, forming part of the wider regeneration of the area, including the new Lidl supermarket and works to Moreton Library.
Alpha Living is developing the site alongside Vistry – Merseyside & Cheshire West, including funding from Homes England and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.
Building on the success of Alpha Living’s multi-Award winning Poppyfields extra care development in Saughall Massie, the Driftwood Gardens scheme has been designed by architects Eden Design to HAPPI dementia friendly standards, with open plan living, spacious communal areas with facilities including assisted bathrooms and laundry, as well as a resource where residents can enjoy a hot drink and socialise together.
The development features large south facing gardens, with access to outdoor spaces and bedrooms with Jack and Jill ensuite bathrooms.
Speaking at the launch, Sally Parsons, CEO of Alpha Living, said:
“We are delighted to welcome you all, young and older, to our celebration of breaking new ground on our exciting Driftwood Gardens development, which is supporting Wirral Council to meet the vital need for affordable extra care housing.
“This significant regeneration scheme in Moreton is being delivered in partnership with Vistry – Merseyside and Cheshire West and will bring 80 beautiful new homes to Moreton, helping to maintain standards of independent living for residents, as well as alleviating the pressure on local NHS services.
‘We are proud to be building, alongside our fantastic partners, thriving and sustainable communities, regenerating neighbourhoods and delivering high quality affordable extra care homes which are so desperately needed.”
“Extra care housing is a wonderful choice for older people. It offers residents the best of both worlds; independent living in their own flat, with support available. I’m really excited to see how the development is progressing together. Driftwood Gardens is in the heart of the community, so residents can access all of the facilities in Moreton.”
Cllr Sue Powell-Wilde added:
“Having the right home plays a vital role in supporting people’s health, wellbeing and independence. Driftwood Gardens will give residents the opportunity to maintain their independence in their own home while benefiting from access to care and support tailored to their needs. Schemes like this help people stay active, connected and living well for longer.”
Cllr Mark Skillicorn said:
“Driftwood Gardens is a fantastic example of the kind of investment we want to see in Wirral – delivering high-quality homes that help people live independently, while supporting the wider regeneration of Moreton and creating new job opportunities for local people. This development will provide much-needed affordable extra care housing for our residents, helping them stay in the local community while being able to access support when and where they need it.”
Ray Kilkenny, Construction Manager for Vistry – Merseyside & Cheshire West, added:
“We are proud and enthusiastic about progressing Driftwood Gardens to a finished building and delivering our second high quality building for Alpha. Today is a great opportunity to see the positive impact our work has within the Moreton community.”
Funding includes £6,240,000 from Home England’s Affordable Homes Programme 2021-26 and £1.3m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority’s Brownfield Land Fund.
Further partners include Clydesdale Bank, Davies Partnership, Drees and Sommer, Eden Building Design, Hill Dickinson and Wilkinson Cowan.