New 77-apartment scheme for over-55s starts with ground-breaking ceremony

A ground‑breaking ceremony in South Wootton marked the start of construction by Housing 21 on a 77‑apartment extra care scheme for people aged 55 and over, with grant funding from Homes England and Norfolk County Council.

Housing 21 has held a ground‑breaking ceremony to mark the start of construction on a new extra care scheme in South Wootton. The site sits next to St James Medical Practice on Edward Benefer Way. Norfolk County Council sold the land for the development, which is being delivered with grant funding from Homes England and the county council. Representatives from local councils and several partner organisations attended the event. Key details: - Developer: Housing 21 is delivering an extra care scheme of 77 self-contained apartments offered for social rent to local people aged 55 and over. - Location: South Wootton, on land adjacent to St James Medical Practice on Edward Benefer Way. - Funding and land: The land was sold by Norfolk County Council and the project is supported by grant funding from Homes England and Norfolk County Council. - Partners present: Attendees included representatives from the county, borough and parish councils and guests from Medcentres, Healthcare and Community Construction (HCC), Primary Secondary Design and TSA Riley. - Care and facilities: An on-site care team will be available 24/7; communal facilities are planned to include a restaurant, residents' lounge, hair salon, laundry room, guest room, assisted bathroom and a mobility scooter store. - Outdoors and parking: Plans include landscaped gardens and on-site parking. Summary: The development is intended to provide purpose-built homes and on-site care to support independent living for older local residents. Construction work has begun following the ground‑breaking ceremony and will be carried out by Healthcare and Community Construction in partnership with Housing 21. Undetermined at this time.