Work starts on £15m elderly housing scheme in Rowley Regis

The project on Moor Lane will provide extra-care housing for people aged 55 and over who need additional support to live in their own homes.

The facility will also have 24-hour around the clock support staff based on the site.

The development will feature 67 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom apartments built around a shared garden, as well as 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 concrete foundations for the three-storey building is now on site.

It is hoped the new homes will be completed in February 2021.

Councillor Joanne Hadley, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for homes, said: "It is 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, cabinet member for living healthy lives, said: "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, added: "We are 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."

The Moor Lane development is being funded by Sandwell Council and Homes England.