01905 362120
01905 362120
Mill Rise wins “housing for an ageing population” category of the Homes and Communities Awards 2010, its fifth award.
Mill Rise, the innovative extra care village in North Staffordshire was one of the first schemes in the country to successfully integrate housing with purpose built healthcare facilities. The project was developed by a pioneering partnership of eight organisations including Prime plc, Aspire Housing, NHS North Staffordshire and Prima 200.
It was built as part of a plan led by Renew North Staffordshire, the housing market renewal pathfinder, to regenerate the Knutton and Cross Heath area. Renew worked together with the Homes and Communities Agency, Newcastle Borough Council, Prime plc, Aspire Housing, Prima 200 and NHS North Staffordshire to ensure the development on an old factory site would meet the housing needs of older people by providing high quality homes with 24 hour personal care and support available.
Designed by One Creative Environments Ltd the village combines 60 one and two-bedroom apartments with a primary care centre and pharmacy, plus welcoming public areas with a piazza, restaurant, café, bar and hair salon.
It provides healthcare to more than 7,000 people in the local communities of Knutton and Cross Heath who are registered with the three GP practices at the centre. Mill Rise also hosts physiotherapy, blood testing, speech and language therapy, baby clinics, nursing services and a fitness suite which provides rehabilitation.
Mill Rise has also won the following:
– The UK’s Most Outstanding Extra Care Scheme 2009 Award, UK Over 50s Housing Weekly News.
– Housing for Older People Award 2010, The Elderly Accommodation Council.
– Local Improvement Finance Trust Exemplar Project, Prima 200 with Mill Rise, CHP LIFT Awards 2010.
– Outstanding Achievement in Central England and Wales, Aspire Housing (with Mill Rise), Affordable Home Ownership Awards 2010.
The high quality of design for Mill Rise, the excellent facilities it offers and the strong involvement of the local community have helped to make it successful a symbol of regeneration in the area.
Robin Studd, Cabinet member for regeneration and planning at Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “We are delighted that Mill Rise has picked up another accolade. The complex is paving the way in creating high quality affordable care for older residents. The village allows people to retain their independence with the knowledge that 24-hour help is available if required.”
Dr Ann Pursey, chief executive of Prima 200, said: “We are delighted that Mill Rise has won another award recognising its achievements of bringing much needed health facilities to the Knutton and Cross Heath area, delivered in a modern centre, and with the combination of health and social housing on one site. The project is one of many great success stories of collaboration delivered by the Prima 200 LIFT program.”
Paul Spooner, regional director for the Homes and Communities Agency West Midlands, said: “We are very pleased to see this superb project and local partnership winning such an important award. This scheme sets very high standards in housing for the elderly”.
Sinead Butters, Aspire Group chief executive, said: “The Aspire Group is all about providing excellent services and maximising the social impact of what we do for the communities we serve. We have been recognised as having the best social enterprise in the country and providing the best housing for older people. This helps to put North Staffordshire on the map as a place of innovation and success in regeneration, training, business growth and successful partnership working. By working together with public sector agencies, businesses and our customers we are helping to make a real difference to people’s lives and their communities.”