Belong Birkdale, which is due to open on Oxford Road later this year, has celebrated a key milestone with a topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the roof and main building work on the £16m state-of-the-art care village.

Belong’s chief executive, Tracey Stakes, was joined by Sefton’s cabinet member for adult social care, Councillor Paul Cummins, as they laid the final roof tile. Speaking of his involvement with the project, he commented: “Belong is a pioneering organisation in the field of care, so I’m delighted to play a role in the completion of its new Birkdale village. The range of services and facilities it will provide will bring a whole host of benefits to the people of Sefton, which I am very much looking forward to seeing.”

Once opened, the Birkdale village will provide class-leading dementia care and high-specification accommodation for over 100 people, including 24-hour support across six extended family sized households and 30, one and two bedroom, independent living apartments. There will also be a range of facilities open to the public, such as a bistro, hair salon, exercise studio and function rooms, designed to promote maximum engagement with local communities.

The development, which was made possible through Belong’s partnership with Octopus Healthcare, was designed by architects, Pozzoni, and is being built by North West construction company, Pochin’s. The village features distinctive details and materials inspired by the West Birkdale
Conservation Area, including Reigate Medium Multi brickwork, stone cladding to apartment balconies and feature window surrounds.

Commenting on the topping out ceremony, Belong chief executive, Tracey Stakes, added: “We are thrilled to mark the completion of the main building work at our first seaside village. It’s in a perfect location and we are really looking forward to bringing our award-winning services and facilities to the local area, which we are confident will quickly prove an asset to both older people and the wider community.”

Bob Nicholson, property director at Pochin’s, added: “There’s no doubt this facility will be a real asset to those in and around the Birkdale area. In partnership with Belong, we’ve created a space that will benefit so many local people.”

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Belong on 01704 614101 or email enquiries@belong.org.uk