Pictured: Key partners from Housing 21, R G Carter, Thurston Relief In Need Charity, Osbornes and Thurston Parish Council.

A topping-out ceremony has been held for Housing 21’s latest development, Michaelmas Court, located on Heath Road in Thurston. This ceremony has marked the building reaching its highest point. This will be Housing 21’s sixth Extra Care development in Suffolk.

Housing 21, a leading national provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care housing, was joined by representatives from Thurston Relief In Need Charity, Osbornes and Thurston Parish Council as well as R G Carter who are the contractor building the scheme.

Michaelmas Court consists of 40 apartments and 14 bungalows providing much-needed specialist independent living homes for older people with the assurance of on-site care for residents if and when they need it. Residents will have the choice to rent or purchase their property through shared ownership.  This development has been supported with over £4 million of Homes England grant funding. 

Bridget Faughnan-Bing, Director of Development and Delivery at Housing 21 said: “We are really pleased to see the progress being made at our 54-unit Extra Care scheme in Thurston and the achievement of this significant milestone. The scheme will provide much needed Social Rent and Shared Ownership housing for local people over the age of 55.

“It’s been a pleasure to work in partnership with both RG Carter and Osbornes to ensure smooth delivery of the scheme, and we look forward to welcoming our first residents to their new homes in 2025”.

Pictured: Development, Michaelmas Court

Keith Towers, Chairman at Thurston Relief in Need Charity added: “The trustees of TRIN Charity were pleased to attend today’s Topping Out Ceremony. The Charity as landowner has been instrumental, together with H21, in bringing forward this much anticipated project.

“As the need for this type of development was identified in the Thurston Neighbourhood Plan it is especially satisfying that, despite Covid and other delays, it is now progressing well and heading towards completion. We wish Housing 21 and Carters well in their endeavours on this top- class project.”

Christopher Dashper, Chair of Thurston Parish Council said: "Thurston Parish Council is delighted to see that this much needed project, identified in the Neighbourhood Plan, is progressing well and will soon be providing an important community service.

“Delivery of a project of this nature is a key objective of Thurston’s Neighbourhood Plan, supporting a range of sustainable housing solutions for current and future generations of a rapidly growing community. The project brings significant added value to the local community, and we congratulate the efforts of all involved to bring this project to fruition."

Residents will benefit from a wide range of communal facilities, including a communal lounge, activity room, laundry, communal gardens and health suite, and guest room. Additional facilities will also be available for use by the wider local community including a café and hair salon. 

The scheme is forecast to open in the Spring of 2025.