06/12/10 - Topping out for new Madeley Centre and Extra Care Development

BBC Radio Stoke presenter Stuart George joined representatives from the project partners – Housing 21, the Madeley Community Development Project Group, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council and Thomas Vale Construction – to celebrate the placing of the final tile on the roof.

It is just one year since work started on the unique £8.2 million development to provide a new eco-friendly community hub and village centre along with a 63 apartment extra care scheme for older people. The Madeley Centre will provide the local community with a 200 seat capacity recreational hall for leisure, arts and theatre activities, café/restaurant, information centre, rural hub, healthy living suite and numerous multi-use meeting spaces for local groups of all ages and interests. A new children’s centre will also be based on the site.

Lea Court, the extra care scheme, will offer independent living along with 24 hour on-site care, if needed. The purpose-built two-bedroom apartments are available either to rent or to purchase on a shared ownership basis. In addition to a fully fitted kitchen and walk-in shower room each apartment will benefit from a secure entry system with intercom and emergency call facilities via a pull cord and pendant.

Julia Godwin, development programme manager for Housing 21 said: “This is a fantastic development for the people of Madeley and the surrounding area. It’s very exciting to see both Lea Court and the Madeley Centre taking shape. Extra care living is an increasingly popular choice for older people because of the community facilities provided. The easy access for Lea Court residents to the Madeley Centre and its many facilities is going to be a huge benefit.”

Housing 21 has received investment through the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) of £3.1m to deliver 63 affordable homes within the extra care facility. Mark Vaughan, investment and regeneration manager for the HCA West Midlands said; “Housing 21 is delivering a great extra care scheme here for the local community and we are pleased that HCA investment has enabled these much-needed homes to be delivered.

The Madeley Centre will be an outstanding example of sustainable development, including features such as ‘energy-saving recommended’ thermally insulated floors, walls and ceilings, passive solar thermal panels for water heating and photovoltaic interlocking roof to provide the majority of the electricity requirements. Additional features include rainwater harvesting, a ground-source heat pump, a ‘natural’ ventilation system and a ‘green’ roof.

Roger Goodwin, chairman of the Madeley Community Development Project Group said: This superb eco-friendly building is a testament to all the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of the project team and, in particular, the skill and dedication of Phil Brenner, Project Manager.

“It is very rewarding to see the group’s aspirations turning into reality and I look forward to welcoming people of all ages and interests when The Madeley Centre opens its doors to the people of Madeley and surrounding rural areas in Spring 2011.”

Newcastle Borough Council Deputy Leader, Cllr Robin Studd, cabinet member for regeneration and planning commented, “This is a key partnership development which will provide a broad range of environmentally sustainable community facilities at the heart of Madeley Village as well as opportunities for affordable, independent living for the older generation.”

Ian Cox, Partnership and Development Director at Thomas Vale Construction added: "This is the culmination of two years of partnership working. The project is due for completion in spring 2011."

Further information about The Madeley Centre can be obtained by contacting Debbie Burns 0n 07825 700228, by emailing Mark Stafford at chopper@e-chopper.com or by accessing the website at www.madeleycdp.co.uk

Applications for Lea Court are welcome from people aged 55 or over who are in need of accommodation with support and personal care and have a strong local connection to Madeley. Those interested in applying for a rental apartment should call Newcastle Housing Advice on 01782 635200 or log onto www.nhaoptions.co.uk. To apply for a shared ownership property they should contact Housing 21’s Sales Team on 0345 608 4021 or email sales@housing21.co.uk.