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Lever Gardens Court extra care development gets official opening

Lever Gardens Court extra care development gets official opening

Residents of our new extra care development in Bolton have spoken about its “life-changing” impact at an event to mark the official opening of the building.

Lever Gardens Court, off Dearden Street, Little Lever, is designed to help residents maintain their independence while giving them access to specialist 24-hour care and support available when needed.

Commissioned by Bolton Council and owned and managed by us, the development is aimed at people aged 55 and over who need some care to live on their own.

The building, set in landscaped gardens with on-site parking, features 62 apartments, each with own fitted kitchen, bathroom, and modern living area.

Garden area at the rear of Lever Gardens Court. Pictured are plants, grass, trees and paths, with the development , showing apartment balconies, in the background.

Each apartment has its own intercom system, enabling residents to manage their own visitors, as well as an emergency alarm system to call for support if needed. Bolton Cares provides residents with 24-hour support and tailored care services.

In addition to the apartments, there are also six bungalows that allow for residents to opt in to our 24-hour Careline community alarm service.

It also has large communal spaces for residents to relax and socialise in, together with a programme of events and activities managed by a dedicated activities coordinator.

The £12.5m development, which replaces a smaller care facility that once occupied the site, was built by contractor Caddick Construction. We welcomed our first residents in April and it’s now almost fully occupied.

We hosted a ribbon-cutting official opening event this week, attended by the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Andy Morgan, and the Mayoress, Karen Holdsworth. Also present were Councillor Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council; Sue Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Bolton Council; Councillor Sean Fielding, Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing at Bolton Council, and Ian Munro, Chair of our Board. Our guest list included further board members, representatives from partner organisations such as Bolton Council, Homes England, Age UK, and local councillors. A big thank you to everyone who joined us.

Pictured left to right, all facing the camera, are the Mayor of Bolton cutting a red ribbon with scissors, the Mayoress, the Leader of Bolton Council, and Chair of our Board, with the entrance to Lever Gardens Court in the background.

Pictured left to right: the Mayor of Bolton, Councillor Andy Morgan, the Mayoress, Karen Holdsworth, Councillor Nick Peel, Leader of Bolton Council, and Ian Munro, Chair of our Board. 

Pauline Burns, resident at Lever Gardens Court, said: “The staff here are fantastic and I’ve quickly become close friends with many of the other tenants.

“There is already a strong sense of community here and I’ve been busy enjoying a lot of the onsite activities, it feels like it’s given me a new lease of life, I’ve even started baking again.”

Pictured left to right are the Mayor of Bolton, resident Pauline Burns, and the Mayoress.. They are facing the camera and are standing in Pauline's kitchen.

Pictured: resident Pauline Burns, with the Mayor and Mayoress. 

Kathleen and Michael Morris, residents at Lever Gardens Court, added: “We love the community feel at Lever Gardens, and the level of quality support we’ve received since moving in. It gives us the peace of mind that if anything were to happen to one of us, then the other would be cared for in a safe and secure environment.”

Pictured are residents Kathleen and Michael Morris. They are facing the camera and the Lever Gardens Court garden, with a bench, plants and a path in the background.

Pictured: residents Kathleen and Michael Morris. 

Noel Sharpe, our Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “Extra Care developments like this one are all about enabling people to live independently for as long as possible in safe and spacious surroundings.

“Residents have their own home with their own front door, but with the peace of mind that care and additional support is there when they need it. Being close to shops, amenities, other healthcare services and bus routes also supports that independence. We’re thrilled to see the enormous benefits it is providing for the people that live here.”

Councillor Fielding, added: “Lever Gardens is a fantastic place that stands proudly as Bolton’s new flagship extra care housing offer.

“It’s no surprise that nearly all the apartments have been snapped up, and now it’s our challenge to secure extra funding to create more places like this as demand for independent living increases across the borough.

“I was hugely impressed by the building and the facilities which are top notch, but also by talking to the staff and residents who are happily making it such a safe, secure and welcoming place to live.”

Residents living at Lever Gardens Court will be able to get care and support that’s tailored to their changing care needs. This may be a few hours a week or daily visits from the on-site care team.