FOUR years of planning and 18 months of construction will come to fruition on Friday (October 1) when the £20.3m Reeve Court Retirement Village is set to open, aiming to provide housing and support for nearly 300 local people within the UK's newest and most innovative social housing scheme yet developed.

Funded as a partnership between St Helens Housing Association, The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, St Helens Council and St Helens Primary Care Trust, the village has extensive social and leisure facilities with 206 self-contained homes, set within a nine-acre woodland site in Rainhill. Partners say villagers can receive up to 24-hour support in a safe and inclusive environment without having to move into nursing or residential care.

Facilities in the village centre include a shop and restaurant, gym, jacuzzi, computer suite, woodwork shop, bar, greenhouse, hairdressing salon, well-being centre and arts-crafts room. These will be complimented by activities and excursions which will typically include choir singing, painting, abseiling and canoeing, all aimed at encouraging a spirit of independence and a sense of personal fulfilment.

Through a village membership scheme, local older people will be welcome to visit, socialise and join residents in a varied learning-programme supported by volunteers and community groups representing different age groups and interests.

'Significant benefits'

ExtraCare believes the village will also deliver significant benefits for local authorities providing health and care services. This year, the charity released figures showing that its Berryhill retirement village in Stoke on Trent currently saves 500 hospital-bed days per year. A similar saving is expected from the Reeve Court development.

A number of mixed-tenure options have been offered to residents. Some have have rented their property, bought outright, or taken advantage of one

of the shared ownership packages available.

John Payne, director at The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, said: "By the year 2011, 80 per cent of retired people will be owner occupiers and in today's figures they own capital assets in excess of £480billion. Many of them may fear selling their home to pay for traditional care when choice can be limited.

"In the village, owner occupiers can shelter capital without losing their home or entire savings to pay for this support".

St Helens council leader, Marie Rimmer, said: "We are very proud to have been involved in the development of Reeve Court which has made St Helens a UK leader in forward thinking retirement provision.

"The village provides quality homes in a safe and secure environment for local people and gives them the chance to live independently and to enjoy a wide range of quality amenities while also providing round-the-clock care services for those who need help and support".