Press Releases

AVANTAGE BRINGS COLOUR TO THE ELLESMERE PORT COMMUNITY WITH WESTMINTER COUNTY PRIMARY SCHOOL - July

Pupils from Westminster County Primary School have done their part to raise community spirits by adding a splash of colour to the hoardings around Avantage's new Hollymere Extra Care development site on New Grosvenor Road.

Provided with paint pallets and brushes, over 20 year six pupils from the school, on John Street, visited the Hollymere site to decorate the hoardings with pictures that represent the Ellesmere Port community.

Sue Finch, head teacher at Westminster County Primary School, said: "The children were very excited to be asked to help add a splash of colour to the local community by using their artistic skills. It was fun for the children to be outside during an art lesson and was a great end of term activity. By painting the hoardings the children used their creative talents to produce something which can be appreciated by everyone in the area."

The pupils were welcomed by site manager Mike Piper and project manager Kevin Ellis from GB Building Solutions, which is working with Avantage. When the Hollymere development is finished there will be over 70 apartments and the facilities on site, such as the gym, library and village hall, will be available for use by the wider community.

Mike Piper, site manager at Hollymere commented: "Having the children from Westminster County Primary School on site was a great experience. The class was so enthusiastic about giving something back to the community and the paintings look fantastic. As Hollymere's facilities will be accessible to the community as a whole, the children's paintings really help to get the message of community spirit across to all the residents of Ellesmere Port."

Hollymere is an Extra Care housing development built by Avantage for people over the age of 60.�The apartments, facilities and care services on site will allow residents to stay active, make new friends and remain in their own home for as long as possible. Residents can choose to buy, part-buy or rent the apartments, which will be available from March 2009. Cheshire County Council selected Avantage to build new apartments for people over 60 across the county.

For further information regarding the Hollymere development, please call 0845 618 5008 or e-mail mychoice@avantage.co.uk.

BUILDING BLOCKS FOR THE FUTURE IN MIDDLEWICH - June

Pupils from Middlewich Primary School have been given the chance to learn about life in the construction industry thanks to workers at GB Building Solutions and Avantage. More than 150 pupils from the school, on Park Road, visited the site of the new Willowmere Extra Care apartments on East Road.

Years three, four and six all toured the development in hard hats and high visibility vests to learn about life on a building site. The children learned about health and safety, and the dangers of playing on a construction site. An engineer showed the children the different machines used on site, and they were invited to ask questions and even try their hands at working some of the equipment.

Sandie La Porta, head teacher at Middlewich Primary School, said: "The children are currently learning about structures and levers in class, and the tour of the site has really helped them to see how buildings are actually constructed, and how levers can help to operate machinery such as the crane. It was a real eye opener for some of them; it's important for them to understand why they are learning subjects such as maths, science and IT, and that they understand how these apply in real life situations."

The pupils were shown around by site manager Frank Newby and project manager Keith Huntington from GB Building Solutions, which is working for Avantage. Cheshire County Council selected Avantage to build new apartments for people over 60 across the county. When the Willowmere development is finished there will be over 70 apartments and the facilities on site, such as the gym, library and village hall, will be available for use by the wider community.

Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Building Solutions adds: "It's very important for us to be involved in the local community and contribute where we can. This visit to Willowmere has been a great opportunity for the children to understand more about the construction industry and about a building project which is on their doorstep.

"I hope that what they have learned from the visits will discourage them from using building sites as a playground. In years to come I also hope they will remember the visit and, we may even have encouraged some budding young construction managers in the school.

Willowmere is an Extra Care housing development built by Avantage for people over the age of 60. The apartments, facilities and care services on site will allow residents to stay active, make new friends and remain in their own home for as long as possible. Residents can choose to buy, part-buy or rent the apartments.

For further information regarding Extra Care apartments, please call 0845 618 5008 or e-mail mychoice@avantage.co.uk.

HANDFORTH DEVELOPMENT TAKES A STEP CLOSER TO COMPLETION - May

The doors to Avantage's new Extra Care development on Spath Lane in Handforth are officially open following the launch of a new sales cabin and the recruitment of local experts to help advise and support people interested in moving to the stylish new homes. The development is the first of its kind in the whole of the UK, placing Cheshire at the forefront of modern new housing for older people.

The purpose-built Extra Care development, Oakmere, is designed specifically for people over the age of 60. The site consists of 53 self-contained apartments to rent, buy and part-buy through a shared-ownership scheme, with 24 hour on-call care available for all residents if and when required. Extra Care housing provides additional support to people living in their own homes, with facilities designed to improve the options for older people by allowing them to stay active, make new friends and remain in their own home for as long as possible.

Once built, non-residents in Handforth will be able to use all the facilities on site, which include the bar, restaurant, hair salon, gym, library, computer suite and �village hall�. A range of social activities will be organised regularly, involving all members of the community.

Claire Henning, sales manager at Avantage, said: �The new faces in Handforth include Anita Hill, Linda Brookes and sales/lettings negotiators Jo-Ann Wallace and Andrew Nixon. They are inviting anyone who is interested in the apartments to come along to the sales cabin and see the plans for themselves. We have also recruited team administrators to make sure the sales and lettings process moves as efficiently as possible for those who are keen to move in as soon as possible.

"We are offering a high standard of accommodation for people over 60 and helping to form a small community of like-minded people for the next phase in their lives. As more and more Councils take the decision to provide better facilities for older people, all eyes will be on what is happening here in Cheshire, and more specifically here at Handforth."

Extra Care apartments are being built in Handforth, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Winsford and Crewe from 2009. Handforth will be the first site to see completion in January 2009. For further information regarding Extra Care apartments, please call 0845 618 5008 or e-mail mychoice@avantage.co.uk.

Winsford gets the Avantage - May

Hazelmere, a brand new concept in housing development, was officially launched in Winsford by Mick Howarth and Sheila Connolly from Cheshire County Council on Friday 18th April 2008. In total, 106 new apartments designed specifically for people over the age of 60 will be built on the site, which is scheduled for completion in June 2009.

The purpose-built 'Extra Care' development will include self-contained apartments, a hair salon, library, computer suite, village hall, restaurant and 24 hour on-call staff for extra support. The facilities will be for all residents and the wider community in Winsford to use and enjoy.

Extra Care housing provides additional support to people living in their own homes, the level of which can be adapted as their needs change. This flexible approach enables the right level of care to be offered to individuals, giving residents the opportunity to remain independent for longer.

Commenting on the Hazelmere development chairman of Avantage, Ian Perry, said: "Our number one objective is to help people over the age of 60 remain independent and maintain a high quality of living while providing security and privacy.

"Hazelmere will have a combination of properties to rent or buy, with a third option of shared ownership also available. It will offer a range of social activities for residents, whilst also providing a central point to access services. The Winsford development will be finished in just over a year�s time and we are looking forward to showing potential residents the finished apartments."

Hazelmere is one of five Extra Care developments across Cheshire. Avantage was selected by Cheshire County Council to design, build and operate the Extra Care apartments in Handforth, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Winsford and Crew.

Sheelagh Connolly, county manager for Older People�s Services at Cheshire County Council, said: "These schemes will revolutionise the way in which we support people over the age of 60 in Cheshire. Each development will provide not only a home but one in a real community environment where people will have access to a broad range of amenities and care and support services that will help to maintain their independence in the manner of their choice."

Avantage is now keen to receive enquiries from people who may be interested in these Extra Care apartments. For more information, whether as a resident or a volunteer, please call Avantage on LoCall 0845 618 5008 or email mychoice@avantage.org.uk.

ELLSEMERE PORT DEVELOPMENT TAKES A STEP CLOSER TO COMPLETION - May

The doors to Avantage's new Extra Care development on New Grosvenor Road in Ellesmere Port are officially open following the launch of a new sales cabin and the recruitment of local experts to help advise and support people interested in moving to the stylish new homes. The development is the first of its kind in the whole of the UK, placing Cheshire at the forefront of modern new housing for older people.

The purpose-built Extra Care development, Hollymere, is designed specifically for people over the age of 60. The site consists of 53 self-contained apartments to rent, buy and part-buy through a shared-ownership scheme, with 24 hour on-call care available for all residents if and when required. Extra Care housing provides additional support to people living in their own homes, with facilities designed to improve the options for older people by allowing them to stay active, make new friends and remain in their own home for as long as possible.

Once built, non-residents in Ellesmere Port will be able to use all the facilities on site, which include the bar, restaurant, hair salon, gym, library, computer suite and 'village hall'. A range of social activities will be organised regularly, involving all members of the community.

Claire Henning, sales manager at Avantage, said: "The new faces in Ellesmere Port include Anita Hill, Linda Brookes and sales/lettings negotiators Jo-Ann Wallace and Andrew Nixon. They are inviting anyone who is interested in the apartments to come along to the sales cabin and see the plans for themselves. We have also recruited team administrators to make sure the sales and lettings process moves as efficiently as possible for those who are keen to move in as soon as possible.

Handforth gets the avantage - February

Oakmere, the first development of Avantage's five Extra Care projects, officially launched this week, as the foundations were laid for 53 new apartments in Handforth.

The Oakmere development represents the first 53 extra care apartments of a planned 430 for the over-60s across the Cheshire. Each development includes self-contained apartments, 24 hour on-call staff, a hair salon, library, computer suite, village hall and restaurant.

Extra Care Housing provides additional support to people living in their own homes, the level of which can be adapted as their needs change. This flexible approach to care enables the right level of care to be offered to individuals, giving them the opportunity to remain independent for longer.

Avantage was selected by Cheshire County Council to design, build and operate the Extra Care apartments in Handforth, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Winsford and Crew. It is a consortium made up of the Harvest Housing Group, the MJ Gleeson Group and Nationwide Building Society.

Commenting on the Oakmere development, Kathy Cowell, Chair of Harvest Housing Group said: "Oakmere will have a combination of properties to rent, buy and part-buy in a safe and secure environment. Each site will offer a range of social, cultural and physical activities for older people within the local community, whilst also providing a central point to access services. The number one objective of avantage is to help older people remain as independent for as long as possible, maintaining a high quality of living well into their old age. Oakmere will be the first development completed and we look forward to showing potential residents around."

Sheelagh Connolly, County Manager for Older People's Services, Cheshire County Council. Said: "These schemes will revolutionise the way in which we support our older citizens. Each development will provide not only a home but one in a real community environment where people will have access to a broad range of amenities and care and support services that will help to maintain their independence in the manner of their choice."

Avantage are now keen to receive enquiries from people who may be interested in these Extra Care apartments which will be available for ownership, shared ownership and rent. For more information, whether as a resident or a volunteer, please call avantage on LoCall 0845 618 5008 or email mychoice@avantage.org.uk

Government asks Cheshire County Council to lead the way with new homes for the elderly - Feburary

On 25th February 2008, the Government announced its support of 200 new units of Extra Care housing in Cheshire. The units, specifically designed for the over-60s, will deliver self-contained apartments to rent, buy or part-buy in a safe and secure environment. As part of the Government's new Housing for an Ageing Society Strategy, Cheshire County Council is one of only three to receive support from Housing Minister, Caroline Flint.

Cheshire-based Avantage has already committed to developing over 400 Extra Care homes for the elderly across the county for Cheshire County Council. Chairman Ian Perry says: "For older people in Cheshire, the announcement by Caroline Flint will be a tremendous boost. The county is very forward-thinking in its approach to housing for older people, so to have this Government endorsement is certainly another step in the right direction.

"Extra Care housing gives the over-60s additional support, such as access to 24 hour on-call staff. It helps older people live independently in their own homes, with varying levels of support adapted to their changing situation. It's a fantastic concept and I hope other counties will take their lead from the progress being made here in Cheshire."

Avantage is a consortium which designs, builds and operates housing developments for the elderly. Plans for its first development of 53 extra care apartments in Handforth were unveiled earlier this year and other apartments are currently being built in Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Winsford and Crewe.

Cheshire has the Avantage - January

Cheshire County Council has selected Avantage to design, build and operate five Extra Care Housing developments across the county. Extra Care Housing provides extra support to people living in their own homes, the level of which can be adapted as their needs may change. The flexible approach to care enables the right level of support to be offered to individuals, giving them the opportunity to remain independent for longer.

Avantage is a consortium which is made up of Harvest Housing Group, MJ Gleeson Group and Nationwide Commercial*.

Avantage will provide homes for over-60's in Handforth, Ellesmere Port, Middlewich, Winsford and Crewe. Each development includes self-contained apartments, 24-hour on-call staff, a hair salon, library, I.T. suite, restaurant and village hall plus other innovative facilities for both residents and the wider community.

John Weeks, Director of Community Services, at Cheshire County Council said: "These schemes will revolutionise the way in which we approach maintaining long term independence and support for our older citizens. Each development will provide not only a home but one in a real community environment where people will have access to a broad range of amenities and services that will help to maintain their independence in the manner of their choice."

Ian Perry, Director of Avantage adds: "Avantage will allow older residents to lead an independent life, in high quality surroundings with the level of support tailored to each individual and their circumstances."

Each development will have a combination of properties to rent, buy and part-buy in a safe and secure environment. Each site will offer a range of social, cultural and physical activities for older people within the local community, whilst also providing a central point to access services.

The project was officially launched on Wednesday 7th November 2007 when key partner's avantage and Cheshire County Council publicly signed the official documents. The first development is due to open by end January 2009.

Avantage and Cheshire County Council are now keen to receive enquiries from people who may be interested in these Extra Care homes. If you would like to know more, whether as a resident or a volunteer, please call avantage on LoCall 0845 618 5008 or email mychoice@avantage.org.uk