Table of Contents
Work has started on Moreton's largest and most affordable extra care development. Pupils from Eastway Primary School joined residents and councillors to mark the occasion at the £18.5m Driftwood Gardens site on Pasture Road.
According to Birkenhead News, Alpha Living, which provides specialist housing, is building 80 one- and two-bed apartments for over 55s, with the homes expected to be ready in a year. The brand new development features south-facing gardens for the sun, outdoor spaces and bedrooms with Jack and Jill en suites. Alpha Living already has developments in Wallasey at Gerard Corr House and Alpha Court.
As guessed, the scheme is part of wider regeneration in the Moreton area. This is in connection with the new Lidl and ongoing works to Moreton Library.
Funding includes £6.24m from Homes England's Affordable Homes Programme and £1.3m from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority's Brownfield Land Fund.
Alpha Living is developing the site with Vistry – Merseyside & Cheshire West. New Alpha Living Board members Vice-Chair Tony Muir and Veronica Cuthbert toured the site, along with Councillor Mark Skillicorn, Chair of Wirral Council's Economy, Regeneration and Housing Committee, and Councillor Sue Powell-Wilde, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee.
Sally Parsons, CEO of Alpha Living, said the development would help meet the vital need for affordable extra care housing. She said the scheme will help to "maintain standards of independent living for residents, as well as alleviating the pressure on local NHS services".
She continued, "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. Driftwood Gardens is in the heart of the community, so residents can access all of the facilities in Moreton."
Councillor Powell-Wilde said 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," she said.
Ray Kilkenny, Construction Manager for Vistry – Merseyside & Cheshire West, said the company was proud to be progressing the development. "Today is a great opportunity to see the positive impact our work has within the Moreton community," he added.
