Work Completes On Lancaster’s First Extra Care Facility

Caddick Construction has completed construction of the new St Martin’s Court development, which will offer independent living apartments with care provision on site for over 55s in Lancaster.

Delivered on behalf of Progress Housing Association, the £23m facility is the first of its kind for the city and will provide 92 affordable homes that are designed to support independent living and offer tailored care and support services to residents 24/7.

Built on former University of Cumbria land, the new scheme comprises one and two-bedroom apartments, with three of the one-bedroom layouts offering enhanced accessibility for wheelchair users. The development also includes additional features such as assisted bathing, spa bathing, a hairdressing facility, games room, laundry room and roof terraces.

To preserve the site’s heritage, Caddick converted two former military barracks buildings into a further 16 one and two-bedroom apartments for affordable housing and restored all historical sandstone buildings. External work also included the remodelling of the existing stone boundary wall, installation of external lighting, landscaping and a car park with EV charging points.

Throughout the project, Caddick delivered a number of employment and educational initiatives as part of its commitment to the local area. 70% of the workforce was from within a 40-mile radius and two apprentices were employed on site.

Caddick engaged with Cedar House School, an independent specialist education school, by hosting workshops for its students. The workshops included an overview of the project, a tour of the site and a talk on health and safety.

Donations totalling £1,000 were also presented to three local charities; mental health charity, Positive Futures, Barton Road Community Centre and Lancashire Youth Challenge, which supports young people from across the county.

Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction North West, commented:

"We’re proud to have completed Lancaster’s first extra care development, providing high quality, affordable homes for those aged over 55 in the city. Transforming former military barracks and university land into modern, accessible properties required both precision and sensitivity, particularly in restoring the site’s historic elements.

“We worked closely with Progress Housing Group throughout the project to deliver social value initiatives that would create a positive impact on the Lancaster community. From our engagement with local students at Cedar House School to the employment and training opportunities we created for local people, our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy has been at the heart of our work here." Dave Saville, Regional Managing Director of Caddick Construction North West

Rebecca Field, Head of Development for Progress Housing Group commented:

“We are delighted to open our first Extra Care scheme and invite tenants into their new homes. St Martin’s Court is more than an exceptional housing development, it is a long-term investment in people, place, and community.

“It successfully combines outstanding design, heritage regeneration, sustainability, and person-centred care to create a vibrant later living community that will benefit residents for generations.” Rebecca Field, Head of Development for Progress Housing Group