Members Hill wins planning consent

In partnership with Amicala, a later living operator, Socius are delighted to announce plans for a new Integrated Retirement Community, have been approved by Elmbridge Borough Council.

The scheme in Weybridge will comprise 205 purpose-built, age-appropriate homes for sale alongside a range of amenities that will be accessible to the wider community including a hydropool, exercise studio and café enabling residents to live active and healthy lives. According to analysis from Amicala, the provision of healthcare and wellbeing facilities will significantly reduce the burden on local NHS services, with GP and nurse visits for residents forecast to decrease by up to 38%*.

The new retirement community will be delivered across a 10-acre site close to Weybridge town centre which was previously utilised as the UK headquarters for JTI. The design includes the sensitive repurposing of existing buildings on the site, saving over 3,000 tonnes of carbon, on-site renewable energy generation and new landscaped parkland.

Work in expected to start on-site at Members Hill in Autumn 2023.

Henry Lumby, Chief Development Officer, Amicala, said: “Members Hill will provide new homes for local older people, that are purpose-designed to enhance wellbeing and supported by healthcare provision on site to enable residents to live happier, healthier and more independent lives. We look forward to working with our partners and local stakeholders to bring these plans forward.”

Barry Jessup, Managing Director at Socius, said: “We are very pleased that plans for Members Hill have been approved, which will see a 1980s office campus repurposed as a new retirement community that will deliver better health outcomes for residents and amenities for the local community. Our approach will retain much of the existing building fabric, saving an estimated 3,000 tonnes of carbon.

“With an aging population and the NHS under severe strain, it is vital we continue to explore new ways to deliver retirement living and healthcare facilities.”

*Source Aston University & Extra Care Charitable Trust.