Old grammar school clock to tick again at new housing scheme
A clock on the retained façade of an old grammar school building in Banbury will be restarted today to mark the site’s on-going transformation into a housing scheme for the over-55s.
Construction work on 70 Extra Care Housing (ECH) flats – properties for people with care needs – is continuing on land inRuskin Roadpreviously occupied by theStanbridgeHallGrammar Schoolin a joint project between Oxfordshire County Council, Cherwell District Council and Housing 21.
The clock will begin ticking again during a special ceremony from 2pm on Thursday, January 26, where representatives from the involved organisations will meet at the site, which will be known as Stanbridge House upon completion.
Planners have been keen to retain elements of the site’s former use, including planning its interior design to reflect previous features, as well as involving the community in its development, such as when pupils from The Banbury School, situated next to Stanbridge House, were present at a brick-laying ceremony last year.
New Health and Wellbeing Centre
The £9.7m scheme will also contain the council-operated Banbury Health and Wellbeing Centre for up to 40 service users. It will replace the existing council-run day centre facility inBritannia Road. Some onsite services, such as access to meals, access to a shop, hairdressing and other activities can be shared between ECH residents and centre users.
The centre, which will be significantly larger than the Britannia Road building, will provide a wide range of health and wellbeing activities for adults of all ages, including cookery, gardening and IT classes. Visitors will also be able to access a dedicated physiotherapy room and a computer suite.
Exciting scheme
Julia Godwin, Housing 21’s Development Programme Manager, said: "I’m sure local people will share our delight in seeing the old clock working again. Retaining the existing iconic façade has been an important aspect of the development of Stanbridge House and it is pleasing to see how the old and new will come together when this exciting scheme is complete."
Councillor Arash Fatemian, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: "The county council sees this development as an important part of its policy to extend choice for local older people and to help them to continue to live in their own homes.
“The site will also offer residents and members of the wider community use of a brand new Health and Wellbeing Centre which is significantly larger and more modern than the current council-run day centre inBritannia Road. I am sure that people will welcome the extensive facilities and services that will be on offer.”
What is ECH?
ECH schemes offer spacious well appointed apartments, with fully fitted kitchens and level access shower rooms.
This type of accommodation, which is available all over the country, offers a combination of housing, 24-hour care and various support services. It is designed to cater for over-55s with care and support needs who wish to remain as independent as possible in the community, whilst at the same time providing a degree of support tailored to individual need.
Further information on the apartments for rent can be obtained by calling 0345 606 6363 and on the sales apartments by calling 0345 608 4021.
ENDS
For further information, please contact Wendy Gornicki, PR & Information Officer, Housing 21 on 0370 192 4338 or email Wendy.gornicki@housing21.co.uk
Housing 21’s mission is to promote independence and choice for older people through quality care, health and housing services. It provides around 131,000 hours of care each week and manages 18,700 sheltered and extra care apartments, providing services to more than 31,000 service users.
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