Gateshead construction firm completes £8m North Yorkshire care development

A Gateshead construction company has completed work on a multi-million pound care scheme in North Yorkshire.

Contractor Tolent has completed construction of an over-55s care development in the village of Great Ayton, working in partnership with Housing 21, North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council.

Near to country house Cleveland Lodge, the scheme has been named Fry Court after chocolate manufacturing firm J. S Fry & Sons – the creator of Fry’s Turkish Delight. A member of the Fry family, Sir Wilfrid Fry, once lived in Cleveland Lodge with his wife Lady Anne of the Cadbury family.

Housing 21’s first extra care scheme in the village, Fry Court comprises 57 one and two bedroom rental and shared ownership apartments. The scheme aims to promote independent living in a community setting, with access to 24/7 on-site care.

In addition, the site features amenities such as a café/bistro and hair salon, a residents’ lounge, activity room, treatment room and communal gardens.

Holly Hunton, housing and care manager at Fry Court, commented: “I am excited to be able to now start moving residents into our beautiful new extra care scheme set in the heart of North Yorkshire at Great Ayton.

“There’s no denying this scheme was needed in Great Ayton as we are opening with very few apartments left for rent. We can’t wait to start getting everybody settled into their new homes!”

Leader of Hambleton District Council, Cllr Mark Robson, added: “Hambleton District Council welcomes the opening of this much needed extra care housing scheme in Great Ayton.

“The council has worked with Housing 21 in the development and allocation of these new homes and is delighted with the completed housing scheme which will enable residents to live independently whilst being able to receive care and support.”

The scheme marks the latest in a range of projects for Tolent that have continued throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including the construction of NHS Nightingale Hospital in Sunderland.

Commercial director for Tolent, Paul Walker, commented: “We are extremely proud of our teams who have persevered through challenging times to ensure this project could be delivered for Housing 21.

“From the start of this global pandemic, the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and supply chain partners has continued to be our number one priority.

“There were some fundamental changes made to our ways of working which sometimes isn’t easy to do, but our teams rose to the challenge and can all be proud of what they have achieved.”

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