Multi-million pound Peaker Park declared open

27/05/2011

Hundreds of guests will be met with a carnival atmosphere at the official opening of a new £11 million care village in Market Harborough.

Prime Life has completed the construction of a 137-bed care village in Peaker Park, Rockingham Road, in nine months thanks to financial support from Yorkshire Bank’s Financial Solutions Centre in Leicester.

An 89-bed specialist elderly, nursing and dementia unit has been built along with two further units each providing 24 beds of specialist care with en-suite facilities for each resident.

The Yorkshire Bank-backed project has also created 150 full-time jobs in roles ranging from nursing and ancillary staff to management and office posts.

Peter Van Herrewege, chairman of Prime Life which operates over 60 care homes UK-wide, said the official opening on Wednesday had been split into two parts.

“We think the grand opening of our Peaker Park care home will be a day to remember for all the right reasons,” he said.

“We will be welcoming around 150 doctors, district nurses and potential residents for a tour of the facilities before being treated to afternoon cream teas.

“Then 250 guests from the business community, the construction and architect teams, district councillors and people who are considering moving into a care home or who have relatives or friends that may want to move into our care village will be greeted during the evening by stilt walkers, jugglers and street entertainers.

“After champagne and canapes, there will be a BBQ, a real ale garden and music from a jazz band before all guests are invited to stay over in our bedrooms so they can live the life of a resident for a night.

“We want to show that Peaker Park is a positive place where people who can no longer live independently can live happily in their advancing years.”

Gail Fielding, senior partner at Yorkshire Bank’s FSC in New Walk, said it was a great idea to treat guests as the celebrities to open the care village.

“Our Investing for Growth funding initiative, which was set up to enable trading companies to move forward, is perfect for Prime Life since it enables businesses to purchase or grow their premises, employ more staff, launch a product or tender for a new contract,” she said.

“This new care village will provide high-standard accommodation and care to ensure residents can continue making the most of life.

“I have watched the care village take shape month by month throughout its construction and I am looking forward to attending the official launch to see it in its final glory.”

A second phase of 32 fully serviced apartments with a mix of one and two bedroom self-contained units featuring a kitchen, lounge and bathroom is expected to begin in 18 months. It will also include communal areas for residents to socialise, greet visitors, a café, laundry and staff provision.