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.

“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 Ellesmere Port.”

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.