Leading healthcare investor and developer Octopus Healthcare is planning a sensitive restoration of the Victorian, Grade II* listed, Tudor Grange House as an over 55’s Retirement Living scheme.
Built in 1887, Tudor Grange House was formerly the family home of Sir Alfred Bird of Birds Custard fame. The red brick house boasts stunning wood panelling, ornamental ceilings and tapestry works, which led to the building being Grade II* listed in 2008. However, parts of the property need complete refurbishment to bring it back into use.
Octopus Healthcare is proposing an exclusive refurbishment of Tudor Grange House to provide 12 luxurious one and two bed apartments, whose residents will be able to enjoy generous communal facilities including lounges, a café, therapy and beauty facilities together with a games room and sympathetically landscaped grounds.
In addition to the extensive renovation of the house itself, the proposals also include the redevelopment of the former car park and caretaker’s house to provide a new 64-bed care home and 37 Assisted Living units, while the development will enable the college to enhance its teaching facilities and provide additional learning opportunities for students.
Octopus Healthcare is keen to consult with the local community and will be holding a drop-in public consultation and exhibition at Solihull College & University Centre’s Blossomfield Campus on Thursday 9th November between 3.30 and 7.30pm.
Open to all local residents, businesses and stakeholders, this event will provide an opportunity for visitors to view the proposals, talk to the development team and comment on the plans ahead of proposals being finalised before submitting a planning application.
Ashley Heath, Healthcare Property Director at Octopus, said:
“We are extremely excited about having the opportunity to bring these magnificent rooms back to their former glory. With over 20% of Solihull’s population aged over 65, this development would help meet a local, and growing housing need in the area and are specifically designed to meet the needs of people in later life whilst encouraging independent living.
Furthermore, increasing the housing choice for residents in later life also helps to release family-sized housing back into local markets, aiding Solihull Borough Council in meeting its required housing target. We are keen to work with the local community and invite anyone interested in our proposals to come along to the public exhibition.”
Students of Solihull College & University Centre are set to reap significant benefits from improved educational and hands on work experience facilitated through the renaissance of Tudor Grange House. These will extend to courses covering horticulture, nursing, business, finance, events management, hospitality, marketing and sales.
John Callaghan, Principal of the College, said:
“We are delighted to be working with Octopus to secure valuable new opportunities for our students and are absolutely thrilled that the legacy of Tudor Grange House will be protected by these proposals. We have entered into a long term collaboration agreement with Octopus Healthcare to bring forward the restoration and development.”
The Public Consultation event will be held at:
Venue: Solihull College & University Centre’s Blossomfield Campus
Date: Thursday 9th November
Time: 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm
