£16m Rowley Regis flats complex given the go-ahead
A £16 million flats complex that will house nearly 100 people in Rowley Regis has been backed by council bosses.
The 90-bed unit for over-55s will be built in Harvest Road on land that was bought by Sandwell Council for housing back in the 1970s.
The multi-million pound development – one of the biggest of its kind to be built in the Black Country – will even feature its own restaurants.
The new centre will be built on council-owned, public open space in Harvest Road and offer 66 one-bedroom and 24-two bedroom flats.
As well as the apartments, the development will have communal facilities for its residents all based around a shared garden.
Work is expected to start as soon as March this year with the council now looking for a contractor.
Councillor Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for social care, jokingly said as she backed the plans that it sounded so good she might put herself down for a place.
Councillor Paul Moore, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment, said the land had been bought in 1947 for housing – but had been designated as community open space in 2010.
He said: “This unit will provide much needed housing for people aged 55 or over who require care of between five and 25-hours a week in the Rowley Regis area.
“The development will have a range of communal facilities with specialist adaptations including restaurants, assisted bathing along with assisted on-site 24 hour care.
“The building will offer the very best possible quality environment to support people’s care needs.”
Councillor Shackleton added: “I whole-heartedly welcome this facility.
“We don’t have such a facility in Rowley Regis and we really see the need for it.
“I realise there were a few objections to this development but only a small portion of the field will be built on and as part of the planning conditions, the rest of the field will be landscaped and improved.
“Those people are living longer lives, they are living healthier lives and they are also living more active lives.
"These 'extra care' homes will provide older people with the independence of staying in their own home but still getting any care and support they require."
The recommendation to approve was passed unanimously.
By George Makin, Local Democracy Reporter
