Willmott Dixon is strengthening its reputation as one of the country's most prolific builders of retirement accommodation with a £22 million contract from Anchor to create Bishopstoke Park in Hampshire.

Bishopstoke Park is Anchor's flagship retirement village near Eastleigh and Willmott Dixon's role, working with architects Urban Edge, will see it build 170 properties and a 48-unit care home that will allow residents to live an independent lifestyle while also benefiting from professional care and support when needed on site.

Bishopstoke Park was originally farmland which was converted into a house and grounds in 1870 before being transformed into a small hospital in the 20th Century. Willmott Dixon's work to transform it into a modern retirement village will be complete in summer next year.

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Willmott Dixon will also create a new village centre complex for residents, providing them with quick and convenient access to a state-of-the-art Wellness Centre, swimming pool, hair and beauty salon, village bistro and delicatessen. Bishopstoke Park is very similar to Denham Garden Village in Bucks, a retirement village that Willmott Dixon built for Anchor in three phases that was complete in 2009.

Bishopstoke Park is the latest project to deliver retirement housing secured by Willmott Dixon. It was recently appointed to build 28 apartments, nine cottages and a 93-bed care village in Ascot for Rise Lodge Developments and is also building residential accommodation for Housing 21 in Warwickshire and Chevin Housing Association in Derbyshire. It takes the amount of housing work secured by Willmott Dixon so far in 2013 to nearly £200 million.

Chief operating officer for Willmott Dixon's housing business, Charlie Scherer, said: "Bishopstoke Park will really make a difference to the provision of high-quality retirement housing in Hampshire, allowing residents to live independently while also benefiting from 24/7 on site care when needed. It will also help support the area around Eastleigh by keeping people together and bringing new jobs and amenities to this area. We’re delighted Anchor has chosen to work with us and build on our excellent relationship following Denham Garden Village. We look forward to applying the expertise and know-how from this and many other similar projects to realise the exciting vision that is Bishopstoke Park."

(CD)