First milestone reached in building new homes and a day opportunities centre

Two people who use Council services were guests of honour at a ceremony marking the completion of the structural framework of new homes and a day opportunities centre.

Susan and Marcus use the Council’s Adult Social Care Services, and they were given a sneak peek of the new building at Hexham Road, Whitley. They were given a guided tour of the building site and taken to the rooftop, where they were treated to panoramic views of the borough.

The structural skeleton of the four-storey building is now complete, and residents will be able to use the facilities and move into their new homes around the end of next year.

The ground floor of the complex will be the day opportunities centre wrapped around a courtyard garden offering lots of outdoor opportunities, including gardening.

Across three further floors, there will be one-bedroom homes, 36 of which will be sheltered housing for people aged 55 or over, as well as six general needs properties. The sheltered housing service allows people to live independently with the benefit of 24-hour monitoring for emergencies and the housing repairs service.

The new complex will be called The Willows in tribute to the care home previously on the site until its closure in 2019.  

The next stage of work for construction partner Morgan Sindall includes building exterior walls and fitting windows.

Councillor Paul Gittings, Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care, said: “This is going to be a great facility for Reading residents.

“In the Adult Social Care service, we aim to support the life that matters to our residents, so that means providing good quality facilities.

"This means purpose-built day care facilities with specialist equipment to match the quality of care from our staff.

“Visitors' time will be filled with activities in supportive and attractive surroundings. I am sure the garden will be well used, providing a sanctuary and a beautiful outlook.

“This will be a fantastic facility for people who need to use our services, as well as for their families, who will know they are getting excellent care.”

Councillor Matt Yeo, Lead Councillor for Housing, said: “We need one-bedroom homes for people looking to downsize from bigger family homes, which can then be used for other families on our waiting list, or whose circumstances have changed.

“Affordable properties which have the security of having access to assistance are important for residents as well as the ability to be their own community.

“This will be a great asset to the town, helping those who live alone with affordable properties.”

The Council’s construction partner is Morgan Sindall and architects Gleeds.