United St Saviour’s Charity is on track to meet its ambition to help more older people in Southwark by obtaining planning permission to build a stunning new almshouse in Bermondsey. Southwark Council’s Planning Committee unanimously supported the plans at their meeting on 12th January 2016.
This will be the first almshouse to be built in the borough for decades and will help meet the shortage of social housing specifically designed for older people. It will provide genuinely low cost extra-care sheltered homes for around 90 Southwark residents, enabling them to grow older and to stay part of their community, but also to remain independent, even those with care needs or age-related disabilities.
The charity has insisted on having only the best homes for their future residents and used top architects Witherford Watson Mann. They aim to create a community within a community; “Loneliness has a huge impact on older people, and we have designed the building to enhance sharing and sociability throughout.” says Stephen Witherford.
Located at 94-116 Southwark Park Road, the almshouse has 57 one and two bedroom flats, surrounding a central courtyard, and includes a community lounge and café, cookery space, a spa and beauty room, and other social spaces. The charity wants it to be part of the neighbourhood, not a retreat from it, and will welcome local residents to use its facilities once open.
The almshouse will be delivered by Delancey as part of the obligation to build affordable housing in connection with the development at 185 Park Street SE1.
The Charity’s CEO, Martyn Craddock says “we are really excited to be part of making a Southwark a great borough to grow old in and we are already searching for our next almshouse opportunity.”
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