South Ribble Mayor Councillor, Jane Bell, and the Mayor of Penwortham Councillor David Bennett, turned the first piece of soil to commence the construction of eight new bungalows at Crownlee, Fairhaven’s retirement development in Penwortham.
They were joined by guests including Alistair Baines, chairman at Cassidy + Ashton, designers of both the original and new bungalows and Tim Webber MBE, managing director of construction partner Barnfield Group.
Designed as high-quality independent retirement homes, the new bungalows will increase the over 55’s accommodation at Crownlee to 48 residential homes. The design of the new bungalows incorporate the most modern methods of design, construction and thermal efficiency.
The design includes open living spaces, two spacious double bedrooms, private patios and views over the landscaped gardens. Each bungalow will have access to off-street parking and storage facilities.
Air source heat pumps, underfloor heating and solar panels are included in the new design to maximise energy efficiency.
Andrew Atkinson, managing director of Fairhaven, said; “We are thrilled to start work on this exciting new project at Crownlee. Given that we have an increasingly aging population, coupled with the demand to take greater measures to reduce the effect of climate change – the need to provide energy efficient age-targeted housing has never been more pressing.
“Building additional bungalows underlines our commitment to deliver high quality retirement housing with renewable technology integrated into the design. There are very few similar developments in the area that offer independent living in such well managed facilities.”
Mayor of South Ribble, Councillor Jane Bell, said: “I’m so pleased to see that the Crownlee Penwortham development for additional retirement bungalows has begun.
“The development will bring much needed good quality spacious homes to the borough which offer vital supported living environments to retirees who can feel safe and supported in our communities.
” We want our residents to be cared for, at the same time as keeping their vital independence and this is one reason that I welcome this project with open arms”.
Councillor David Bennett, Mayor of Penwortham said: “This is a terrific development and brings much needed additional retirement housing to the area. Since the opening of the Penwortham by-pass the Penwortham town centre has evolved into a vibrant cosmopolitan place with a real community atmosphere and offers many social benefits to help improve the wellbeing of the people who live and work there.
“Crownlee is right in the heart of this area and also benefits from the excellent road and bus links to surrounding areas.”
Fairhaven also operates a private community centre at Crownlee, which as part of the expansion project, has received significant investment to upgrade its communal and restaurant facilities. The entire project is due to be completed by Autumn 2022.
Andrew added: “I expect the new bungalows to sell off-plan quite quickly. I strongly encourage anyone interested in having a look at the plans and potentially seeking to secure a bungalow, to get in touch as soon as possible.”
“In fact, as there is a such huge demand for good quality retirement homes, we plan to create more retirement developments in the region, similar to Crownlee, and are actively seeking further locations across Lancashire for consideration.”
