WORK is to recommence on Chester’s new £21 million state-of-the-art dementia care village.

Seddon Construction has now been appointed to complete the project by leading care operator, Belong.

Cheshire contractor, Pochin’s, originally began work on the City Road development in 2018, before going into administration last year.

Seddon has a track record in completing care developments to a high specification and has previously built the Belong care village in Wigan, which opened in 2009.

Belong Chester is expected to open next year and will provide high-specification accommodation and specialist dementia and nursing support for more than100 people.

It will offer 24-hour support across six extended family sized households and the village also includes 23 independent living apartments, which are available to buy or rent.

Outreach services will also be available to people in the wider community, including the organisation's award-winning home care offering, Belong at Home, and a specialist day care service.

Designed by Altrincham-based Pozzoni Architecture, the village hub will feature a range of facilities, including a bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and function rooms, with space for intergenerational activities.

Speaking of the latest development, chief finance officer at Belong, Chris Hughes, said: “We are thrilled to have recruited a trusted partner in Seddon to support us with the next stage of the project. We look forward to opening Belong Chester in 2021 and bringing much needed older people’s services to those in the local community.”

Director of Seddon Construction, Jonathan Seddon, said: “We are delighted to be picking up the reins of the Chester project. As with our other work with Belong, there’s a real sense that together, we are creating a place that will be an asset to so many people, both those in need of care and the wider community.”

The site of the new village extends to Queen's Avenue and will involve the landscaping of surrounding areas, including the canal-side conservation area, for the benefit of local residents.