New Coventry care home given green light

A new care home which will provide specialist care for adults with complex needs in Coventry has been given the green light.

The 38-bed care home, which will be built on the site of the derelict St Nicholas Church in Radford, has received planning consent from Coventry City Council.

Coventry headquartered Deeley Construction will be completing the development for UK care provider Exemplar Health Care – with the care home set to create 100 jobs. Deeley Partnerships, a separate division within the Deeley Group, helped to broker the deal to bring the new development to the city.

Preliminary works including the demolition of the church are set to begin, with work set to start on building the new specialist care home at the end of the year.

St Nicholas Church has been unused and in a state of disrepair for more than 10 years and was closed due to health and safety reasons. Notable features will be collected and retained for re-use, including its bells, cross and a plaque which features a carving of St Nicholas in Portland stone. The cross will be retained on site and erected into a plinth, while the bells will be reused by the diocese.

The three-storey home, designed by Watson Batty Architects, is a modern twist on the Twentyman style of architecture, with features including a single storey entrance with canopy and a palette of materials which reflect the architecture style of the existing church.

It will include facilities on each floor to support nursing care, as well as dining rooms, quiet rooms and lounge areas, alongside a residential therapy room and an entrance hub with meeting areas for visiting family members. 

As part of the plans, a new sensory garden will be created, offering a communal space for residents to enjoy. 

The development will include a 31-space car park, including three electric vehicle charging points, with the addition of six new parking spaces for use by the parish hall, which will remain open throughout the building works.

Exemplar Health Care has more than 40 care homes across the UK.

Charlotte Lloyd, Director of Commissioning at Exemplar Health Care, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Deeley Construction on yet another joint project, which will make a huge difference to the lives of adults with complex care needs. 

“Our new home will greatly improve the experience of people in the local area receiving care and support. People will be able to live closer to friends and family in a purpose built, community-centric care home whilst being supported by a holistic care and nursing team that can help them continue to engage in society and progress their personal goals."

The development on Radford Road is the fifth scheme which Exemplar Health Care has partnered on with Deeley Construction, which is part of Deeley Group.

Eleanor Deeley, Joint Managing Director of Deeley Group, added: “We’re looking forward to getting work underway on this development which will transform an unused site into a community for people with complex care needs in Coventry.

“This scheme will address the growing needs for specialist care in the city, while also creating important jobs for local people and delivering significant economic benefit.”

Stephen Davenport, of the Diocese of Coventry, added: “We are, of course, sad to see the demolition of the building but it was the only viable option.

“Decisions regarding the church building have not been taken lightly and a full legal consultation has been carried out at every stage. It is planned that proceeds from the sale of land will be used for development of St Francis Church, Radford. This will benefit both the church and the local community.  

“In selling the land, it has been of utmost importance to the Diocese that any development on the site was of benefit to the local community and we are delighted that the care home will not only provide help for those receiving support but will offer new career opportunities in Radford.

“The church community at St Nicholas meets in the church hall, and will continue to do so offering a friendly, welcoming Church, which works to foster links with the local community as part of their outreach and mission.”