Work underway on £15m extra care housing scheme in Rowley Regis

Sandwell Council and building contractor Speller Metcalfe are celebrating construction getting underway on a new 90 apartment extra care housing scheme in Rowley Regis.

The £15 million project  in Moor Lane, will provide housing to those aged 55 and older who need additional support to live in their own homes, along with 24-hour around the clock support staff based on site.

The development will feature 67 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom apartments built around a shared garden plus other communal facilities including a restaurant and hairdressing salon, both of which will be open to the public.

Midlands-based Speller Metcalfe started site preparation work at the end of June and a piling rig to install the concrete foundations for the three-storey building is now on site.

Councillor Joanne Hadley, Sandwell’s cabinet member for homes, said: “It’s great to see work progressing on another housing development in Sandwell.

“This new extra care housing scheme is very exciting and will offer affordable high-quality council homes for rent, increasing housing choice for people aged 55 and over.”

Councillor Farut Shaeen, Sandwell’s cabinet member for living healthy lives, added: “This very welcome facility will allow older people to live independently in a secure environment and enjoy a range of on-site facilities as well as proving a flexible care and support service.”

Rob Lashford, regional director for Speller Metcalfe, said: “We’re very pleased to be working with Sandwell Council on this much-needed facility for the area.

“We’re still in the early stages but it’s fantastic to see the site start to take shape so quickly and we are looking forward to seeing the building come out of the ground in the coming months.”

Funding for the homes at Moor Lane has come from Sandwell Council and Homes England.

The new homes are set to be completed in February 2021.