QEII retirement scheme completed in Stoke

Vistry Partnerships has finished the development of Queen Elizabeth II Court in Fenton and has handed over the 57 extra care apartments to Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Each of the modern apartments is designed with the city’s elderly residents in mind, and the retirement scheme features communal areas including – a communal dining room, residents lounge, multi-activity room, meeting room.

The centre also has electronic charging points for mobility scooters, and a dedicated management team will be available during the working week.

The QEII scheme is one of the first new-build projects to be delivered under the council’s ‘Age-Friendly Homes’ programme; an initiative aiming to improve housing in the city by replacing some existing housing with high quality, fit for purpose homes.

‘The QEII project is a great scheme for the area, providing much-needed, high-quality housing for the city’s older residents,’ said Vistry Partnerships’ managing director for the North West, Ian Hilliker.

‘There is a real need for more homes across the UK, and this development is an excellent example of a local authority taking the initiative to address some of the housing shortages in their city. We are thrilled to have helped make their idea a reality.’

In 2018, Stoke-on-Trent City Council appointed Vistry Partnerships to deliver the scheme which benefitted from a £2.5m grant from Homes England.

The council’s cabinet member for housing, Cllr Joanne Powell-Beckett, added: ‘Queen Elizabeth II Court is the first of a number of new build supported housing schemes that will replace the outdated sheltered housing schemes built in the 1960’s & early 1970’s that are no longer fit for purpose and marks a new chapter in the provision of older persons supported housing across the city.

‘The 57 self-contained supported apartments complete with communal facilities now enables residents to live independently, but with the peace of mind that care is on hand to deliver any support that is required.

‘The development has helped bring an additional £18 million invested into Fenton. Funding which was provided by the Housing Revenue Account capital programme and grants from Homes England.’

During construction, Vistry Partnerships offered apprenticeships and traineeships to local residents, with 70% of the labour and supply chain coming from within a 25km radius of the site. In doing so, the QEII scheme provided a significant boost the local economy.

Photo Credit – Supplied