Work is set to get underway at Sanctuary Group's largest care development to date, a £22 million scheme in Worcester that will see investment in the local construction industry and the creation of jobs and training opportunities.

This project is part of Sanctuary Group's wider investment in the Worcester area. Sanctuary Group currently employs more than 800 staff at its central offices in Chamber Court, Worcester, and is also planning further investment in office space in Farrier Street.

Sanctuary Group's new development at the University Park site in St Johns will incorporate a 60-bed care home and a 60-unit extra care scheme as well as 40 close care homes, including 32 apartments and eight bungalows. It will also feature a central hub, which will provide a range of shared facilities for future residents.

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Sanctuary Group has appointed Midlands-based contractors Stepnell Ltd to build these new properties, and preliminary works are now starting on site.

Peter Martin, group director of development for Sanctuary Group, said: "This is Sanctuary's largest care development to date and we are delighted to be building it in Worcester.

"Our focus is on the creation of new jobs as well as new homes, and we will be offering a number of apprenticeship opportunities throughout the construction period as well as forging closer links with local schools and colleges to provide practical work-based experience and on-site visits. The development will also create many care-related jobs over the longer term."

The land for this development was purchased from the University of Worcester as part of its master plan to build a Health & Wellbeing campus, a Business and Enterprise campus and a University Learning campus. The Health & Wellbeing campus is the first part of this wider project to get underway and Sanctuary’s care development will sit alongside the new St John’s House Medical Centre, which is currently under construction.

Sanctuary Group's scheme is due for completion in the spring of 2015.

(CD/IT)