Almost 70 new homes in Biddulph given go-ahead

Plans for 69 one and two bedroom extra care apartments on the site of the former Meadows School site on Tunstall Road were last night given the go-ahead.

Our plans include 69 apartments for affordable rent, a guest bedroom, residents' lounge and laundry room as well as a community 'Hub' including café, multi-use room and community room, all open to the public. A seating area will overlook the adjacent playing fields and parking will be included on the site.

The new development will form part of ShireLiving, a partnership between the Trust and Choices , providing extra care schemes across Shropshire and Staffordshire. The approval of these plans and other sites in progress brings the number of modern ShireLiving homes to over 600.

Extra Care housing offers an alternative to residential care, allowing older people above the age of 55 with different levels of care to live independently in their own home for as long as possible, whilst also allowing couples with differing needs to continue to live together with care and support provided by on-site staff 24 hours a day.

A consultation event was hosted by the Trust in September 2015 to showcase the state-of-the-art development, with feedback being used to amend the plans before a planning application was submitted to Staffordshire Moorlands Council.

Pamela Edwards, Director of Flexi Care, said: "We're looking forward to getting started on this brand new ShireLiving scheme and providing more much-needed homes for older people in Staffordshire. This will be a great addition to Biddulph, regenerating an area that has not been in use for some time, and providing the homes and quality care and support that are needed by our growing ageing population."

Work is hoped to start in the spring and be completed early in 2018.

29th January 2016