Broughton House secures £3m loan
The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has agreed to invest £3m in the redevelopment of Broughton House in Salford, the North West’s only home for ex-servicemen and women.
Salford Council approved the £12.5m project, designed by Levitt Bernstein, in September. The scheme includes the demolition of the current building to make way for a 64-bedroom care home with a dementia wing and a separate 34-unit independent living block, estimated for completion in 2020.
GMCA’s loan matches a £3m grant from Government-initiative Libor, which is a redistribution of banking fine proceeds.
The redevelopment will be managed in two stages so that disruption for residents is kept to a minimum. Broughton House’s fundraising is ongoing, but the GMCA money means that work on the first phase can begin shortly.
Broughton House currently provides care for up to 50 ex-servicemen and women, which will increase to 94 people after the renovations.
Other features include a military support hub fitted with an advice centre, gym, and hair salon. A memorial park has been designed by landscape architect Exterior Architecture, which will have a cenotaph and remembrance walls, as well as an all-weather bowling green and bandstand.
The first stage will be the erection of the 34-unit independent living block. Once completed, those currently living in the Broughton House will move in. The second stage will see the building will be demolished to make way for the 64-bedroom care home.
Dooley Associates is managing the scheme’s delivery, with Curtins Consulting as the structural engineer and Building Services Design as service engineer.
The investment will be made through the GMCA Business Investment Fund.
Mayor of Greater Manchester and GMCA lead for finance and investment, Andy Burnham, said: “Broughton House has done an incredible job for more than 100 years serving those who have served us. This extra funding reflects our commitment in Greater Manchester to the Armed Forces Covenant and will play a vital role in giving the right amount of care and attention our veterans need and deserve.
“This investment into the centre would be set up uniquely to help ensure the charity can pay the money back in a sustainable way while providing the best possible care to our veterans.”
Chief executive of Broughton House, Ty Platten, said: “Broughton House has been there for Greater Manchester veterans returning home injured from the battles of Passchendaele and the Somme, from Dunkirk and Normandy, Korea, Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Broughton House is a place of great cultural and historical significance to the veteran families of Greater Manchester and this assistance from GMCA will mean that another 100 years of veteran service and support will become a reality.”
Broughton House has so far raised £8m towards the facilities, with another £5m still to be found.
