£10m home to create 80 new jobs in city
A £10million old people’s home in Sunderland is set to create 80 new jobs.
Work has started on the housing and care development in Silksworth, which will be one of older people’s charity Abbeyfield’s largest projects of its kind.
Once complete, the purpose-built scheme will provide full-time independent living with care facilities and will create 80 jobs.
The £10million three-storey home – Abbeyfield’s first on Wearside – is expected to begin welcoming residents in early 2018.
It will provide 75 one and two-bedroom flats offering independent living for older people at affordable rents, as well as additional care services via 24-hour staff support.
Recruitmenttoroles –including maintenance, chefs, front-of-house and care staff – will begin later this year.
Abbeyfield is working in partnership with Sunderland City Council and building contractor, Tyneside-based Tolent Construction, on the facility overlooking the Tunstall Hills.
The project is being jointly funded by Abbeyfield and the Homes and Communities Agency.
Project lead Jacquelene Notman said: “This is the first time Abbeyfield has undertaken a 75-unit scheme in a location which is new to us.
“As a charity we are governed by need, and this is a real opportunity for us to offer older people living in and around the Sunderland area an exciting new facility which combines Abbeyfield’s ethos of providing the best service of care and housing, and to be a champion for older people.”
Sunderland City Council Portfolio Holder for Health, Housing and Adult Social Care, Coun Graeme Miller said: “I’m delighted that Abbeyfield has chosen to invest in our city.
“Sunderland has developed a national reputation for its approach to providing supported accommodation for older people, and the scheme at Silksworth being built with Abbeyfield is the latest development, which will not only meet a wide range of accommodation and care needs but is also designed to improve the health and wellbeing of all those living there.”