High Sheriff of Cheshire celebrates Belong Chester topping out

The High Sheriff of Cheshire, Robert Mee DL, has celebrated the completion of the main building works of a major development in Chester, as guest of honour at its topping out ceremony.

By reaching the key milestone, the Belong Chester care village, situated on City Road, is now one step closer towards its scheduled opening in early 2022.

On a day of glorious sunshine, Robert Mee DL braved the heights of the £21 million state-of-the-art development to lay the final roof tile alongside former Belong Chair, Margaret Yorke; Belong’s deputy chief executive, Tracy Paine, and Chris Ellison, the project manager for the site from contractor, Seddon.

Robert Mee DL has an extensive relationship with the city; in addition to his statutory duties, he is involved with other local charities, including Cheshire Young Carers and the Hospice of the Good Shepherd and has played a significant role in regeneration with Cheshire West and Chester Council and the Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Board.

Commenting on the landmark step, Robert Mee DL said: “The creation of a Belong village in the heart of the city promises to expand the provision of high quality services for older people in the area, and it was wonderful to have this opportunity to see the rapid progress being made towards completion.”

Tracy Paine added: “We are thrilled to have finished the main building work at Belong Chester. We know the village’s opening is eagerly anticipated and we look forward to welcoming the community early next year and to being able to support local older people, including those living with dementia and their families.”

Located in the heart of the city, adjacent to its historic canal, Belong Chester has been designed by architects, Pozzoni, with contractor Seddon heading up the build. Once open, the village will provide world-leading dementia and nursing care, with 24-hour support available across six extended family sized households and 23 independent living apartments, the latter now available to purchase or rent.

John Shannon, divisional director at Seddon said: “It’s great to see the scheme progressing and we were delighted to have some of the Belong team join us on site to mark this milestone. The next stage will see the village come to life even further and transform into the highly-anticipated vibrant space the people of Chester have been waiting for.”

Customers and the wider community will also benefit from a range of on-site facilities, including a gym, bistro, hair salon and therapy rooms, creating a vibrant hub to enjoy an active later life. A specialist day care service will also be available, as well as the organisation’s award-winning home care service, Belong at Home.

The new Chester village will join Belong’s seven care villages across the North West and Midlands, together with another site in Birkdale, also set to open in 2022 and a new village planned at Wirral Waters in Birkenhead.

For more information and to register interest please contact Belong by emailing:

enquiries@belong.org.uk

or call 01244 470 570.