Engie breaks ground at £15m extra care scheme

Engie has started construction of a £15.2m extra care scheme in off Barton Road in Oxenholme, Kendal.

The development is being built on behalf of not-for-profit provider of retirement housing and extra care, Housing 21.

Made up of 80 apartments and 24 bungalows, the project aims to help older people maintain their independence with access to care and support from a 24-hour, on-site care team.

The Oxenholme project is the second extra care scheme Engie is on site with on behalf of Housing 21, with work on a similar £10m scheme in High Bentham in the Yorkshire Dales reaching the halfway mark of its development.

Engie said it was due to work on another three extra care buildings in Cumbria in the coming months, with a value of approximately £60m.

Work is expected to be complete on the project in summer 2021.

Lee Francis, area director at Engie, said: “This new development will allow more than 100 local residents to retain their independence, while living in beautiful surroundings and having the care they need close at hand.

“Engie has a long track-record of creating high-quality extra care developments and we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with Housing 21 and making this scheme a reality.”

SPA Architects designed the scheme.