Building and civil engineering contractor, Farrans Construction, has been appointed by Inspired Villages to begin construction of a £45 million retirement community in Sonning Common, South Oxfordshire. 

Farrans’ first phase of works will include 73 homes for over 65s and a wellness suite within the village centre.

When delivered in full, the scheme will provide 133 age-appropriate, sustainable homes for around 150 over 65s, with facilities including a restaurant, cafe, hair salon, library and craft rooms and a wellness centre comprising a swimming pool, steam room, treatment rooms and a gym with a fitness studio. Some of these features such as the gym, pool, restaurant and café will be open to the wider community.

The development will provide more than 100 construction jobs, and over 40 operational jobs once complete.

Glenn Gilmore, regional director for Farrans Construction, said: “Sonning Common is an exciting development in the heart of an area which is experiencing significant demand for retired living accommodation. The design has brought in elements which will encourage a true community spirit, with opportunities to socialise, relax and keep active. We have an extensive later-living portfolio in the UK and we understand how important it is to consider and deliver for the end users who will call this home. We will be engaging with the local community throughout our work on site and we look forward to leaving a positive lasting legacy in the area.”

Neal Dale, chief property and development officer at Inspired Villages, commented: “Having recently opened our ninth village and the UK’s first net zero retirement community, Millfield Green in Bedfordshire, we are excited that Widmore Park will follow in the footsteps of this trailblazing village with its sustainability credentials centred around ground source heat pump technology. All of the buildings will accommodate solar panels and will be designed with excellent insulation and ventilation. We’re also enabling electric car charging points, a crucial part of delivering cleaner transport across the country. We are leading the IRC sector’s approach to sustainability and social impact.

“By creating vibrant, sustainable communities carefully designed for the needs of over 65s and focused on promoting a connected and active lifestyle, we know our villages improve the holistic wellbeing of residents and have positive impact to the wider community also. Sonning Common is an important step in our portfolio expansion, allowing us to support the shortfall in specialist later living housing in the South Oxfordshire area.”

Inspired Villages is supported by joint venture funding of £500 million from NatWest Group Pension Fund and Legal & General and plans to deliver 34 communities comprising 5,100 homes for 8,000 over 65s. It operates nine villages with an additional three sites under construction. Its latest village, Millfield Green, opens this month in Bedfordshire.