London,
16
March
2020
|
11:46
Europe/London

Charlie Ratchford Court hits new heights

  • Vistry Partnerships and Camden Councillors at topping out event
  • Energy solar panels on the roof of Charlie Ratchford Court
  • New flats at Charlie Ratchford Court under construction
  • Tour of Charlie Ratchford Court
  • Vistry Partnerships and Camden Councillors at topping out event
  • Energy solar panels on the roof of Charlie Ratchford Court
  • New flats at Charlie Ratchford Court under construction
  • Tour of Charlie Ratchford Court

Construction of Camden Council’s innovative new care service at Charlie Ratchford Court has reached the top of the building, a significant step towards completion.

Councillor Patricia Callaghan, Councillor Danny Beales and staff from Camden and Vistry Partnerships marked the key milestone in the project with a ‘topping out’ ceremony held on the building’s green roof.

Due for completion later this year, Charlie Ratchford Court will provide care to residents with a range of needs through an innovative care model that will help them maintain their independence and reduce loneliness.

The scheme will include 38 purpose-built flats, a café-style dining area where residents and families can come together, and a programme of activities that can be enjoyed in the flexible indoor and outdoor spaces by residents and the wider community.

This unique approach is designed to help tenants make meaningful connections with each other and the wider community while living active and fulfilling lives.

The building has been designed to use renewable energies and low carbon technologies to produce sustainable energy sources and so it was only right to also celebrate this sustainable building by planting a range of plants on the roof that will grow and take shape as the scheme develops.

Councillor Patricia Callaghan, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Healthy and Caring Camden said:

“In Camden, we want to support people to live healthy, active and independent lives for longer. We are not just building homes, we are creating a community that will help to reduce loneliness and isolation among tenants through regular wellbeing and social support.

“Staff will work with residents, planning and adapting their support, and focusing on building their strengths, independence and resilience.

“It’s an exciting time and I look forward to when it is complete and residents get to move in.”

Councillor Danny Beales, Cabinet Member for Investing in Communities and Inclusive Economy said:

“We’ve had huge cuts to our budgets by government that mean we need a way to pay for community buildings and homes like this. The only way we can is through the Community Investment Programme (CIP), our plan for investing over £1 billion in building schools, homes and community facilities in Camden.

“Our goal is to make sure that everyone in Camden has a place to call home, and I can’t think of a greater example of this than at Charlie’s, a place that will benefit our community for years to come.”

Matthew Taylor, Managing Director of Vistry Partnerships London Developments said:

“We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone on schedule, for what will form a state-of-the-art extra care building within the heart of Camden, providing homes for people with a range of needs as part of Camden Council’s Community Investment Programme.

“This project, alongside our proposed redevelopment of the former Charlie Ratchford Resource Centre, will result in the investment of nearly £50m into the borough, and provide more than 150 high-quality new homes, of which 50% will be affordable homes across the two sites.”