PLANS SUBMITTED FOR STATE-OF-THE-ART CARE HOME AT SHERFORD

Plans have been submitted to bring a purpose-built, specialist care home to Sherford, marking a significant next step in the development of the new town’s community facilities. The planning application sets out detailed proposals for a 72-bedroom care home that is to provide specialist dementia, residential and respite care for older people in the local area.

The application follows the deal between the Sherford Consortium – the partnership of leading housebuilders Taylor Wimpey and Vistry Group* responsible for the development of Sherford – and specialist care developer, Mercroft Estates, which is a joint venture between Mercian Group and Barcroft Estates.

With the planning application now submitted to South Hams District Council, the project takes a major step closer to becoming a reality. Subject to the planning process, it is expected that work could start in Q4 this year. Construction is expected to take around 20 months to complete.

A home designed around its residents

The proposed three-storey building has been carefully designed to complement the character of Phase 2 of Sherford, with the use of materials including white render, wooden weatherboard cladding and grey stonework helping to reflect the contemporary Devon style of the surrounding homes.

Far beyond the basics of care provision, the proposed facility has been designed to offer residents a rich and fulfilling quality of life. On the ground floor, residents and visitors will be welcomed into a central communal hub featuring a café, cinema room, hairdressers, beauty salon, and a private dining area – all arranged to encourage interaction and a sense of community.

All 72 bedrooms – 21 on the ground floor, 25 on the first floor and 26 on the second floor – will include en-suite facilities, with ground floor rooms benefiting from private patio spaces opening directly onto the gardens. Further lounge and dining areas with outdoor terraces are provided on the first and second floors, ensuring residents on every level have access to communal social spaces and fresh air. A lift will connect all three floors.

The building is designed with dementia care at its heart, with clear wayfinding, appropriate colour schemes and keypad-secured private areas all incorporated into the plans. All systems and facilities throughout meet the latest standards for residential care homes.

Green in every sense

Considerable thought has been given to the outdoor spaces, as is the case throughout Sherford. The landscaping proposals include sensory gardens with flowering trees and ornamental planting, a garden club activity area with wheelchair-accessible raised planters, pergola walkways, benches and seating areas and a gazebo.

Terrace areas will lead directly out from the ground floor communal spaces, providing easy access to the gardens for residents, visitors and staff alike. Private patio areas for ground floor residents will enable residents to tend to their own plants and outdoor spaces. Trees planted along the front of the building will mirror Sherford's tree-lined streets.

The building has also been designed with environmental performance in mind. Solar panels are proposed for the roof, and the building is expected to exceed current building regulation standards through improved thermal efficiency and the use of low carbon technology for heating and hot water.

Supporting the community

The care home will provide over 100 local jobs once operational, offering a range of employment opportunities for people in Sherford and the surrounding area. The site, which sits next to a planned urban park and with Sherford’s town centre nearby, means the care home will be right at the heart of the community.

Richard Harrison, Land and Planning Director at Taylor Wimpey Exeter, said: “We are pleased to see the planning application submitted for the care home at Sherford. It’s an important milestone in bringing this much-needed facility one step closer. From the outset, our ambition has been to ensure Sherford offers a genuine range of facilities to serve residents at every stage of their lives. The quality and care that has gone into these plans reflects that commitment, and we look forward to the vision becoming a reality.”

Chris Towers, Director at Mercroft Estates Limited, said: “This is an exciting moment for us and for the Sherford community. The detail within these plans reflects how seriously we take the design and delivery of specialist care environments. We have worked hard to create a building that not only delivers outstanding care, but that also sits comfortably within Sherford and makes a positive contribution to the neighbourhood. We hope to be in a position to move forward with construction soon.”