ExtraCare receive planning permission for expansion to Shenley Wood Retirement Village

Due to the previous overwhelming success of Shenley Wood Village, which comprises 300 apartments with leisure and health facilities, there was strong demand for the expansion. The expansion is set to include 81 further units consisting of 73 apartments and eight bungalows, a multi-use community space and extensive landscaping. Following the construction of the additional units Shenley Wood Village will become the largest integrated retirement community in the UK.

The Shenley Wood expansion will prioritise sustainability by incorporating solar panels, air source heat pumps, and electric heating.

ExtraCare will now look to appoint a construction partner. The proposed development, designed by architects Stride Treglown is scheduled to start in the Summer of 2024 and will aim for completion by Summer 2026.

The land for the expansion has been purchased from the Milton Keynes Development Partnership (MKDP), which manages the city’s portfolio of land assets in line with objectives laid out by the Council’s Plan and Strategy for 2050. Those objectives include building a diverse and inclusive economy, providing decent, affordable homes in a high-quality environment, tackling social inequalities, supporting cleaner, safer and healthier communities, and acting on climate change.

Hardev Thandy, Head of Growth and Construction at ExtraCare, said, “We know from our research that residents can enjoy a healthier, more independent future within our vibrant locations. The expansion to our already thriving Shenley Wood Village community will provide more residents and the wider Milton Keynes community with spacious homes, an inspirational lifestyle, and care for those who need it.” 

Ian Tipton, Regional Director at Stride Treglown, added, “Stride Treglown have been working with ExtraCare for over 15 years to create better lives for older people. We are incredibly proud to be working with them to deliver the newest phase of development at Shenley Wood Village.  This is a really important milestone and we are really excited by the extra variety and choice of homes the expansion will offer for the residents of Milton Keynes.”

Damien Lippett, Development Manager at MKDP, said, “This expansion will provide much needed additional housing for older people in Milton Keynes and the wider community at a time of increasing demand.  We’re looking forward to seeing the development progress in the near future and want to thank all partners involved for bringing this forward.”

ExtraCare is a registered charity which develops, operates and supports 16 villages and four housing schemes across the Midlands and neighbouring areas. Focussed on creating sustainable communities, ExtraCare are UK pioneers not only delivering homes, of which it has over 4,200, that older people need but also enabling residents to enjoy a range of facilities and care if and when it’s needed.