Work is now officially underway on the construction phase of Retirement Villages Group’s (RVG) much-anticipated Botanical Place project in West Byfleet.
Marking the occasion, dignitaries from across Woking Borough attended the project’s ‘Green Shovel’ ground-breaking event. In this ceremony an eye-catching green spade was used to break the ground, representing RVG’s sustainability and environmental ambitions for a project that will result in the UK’s first whole-life net-zero carbon retirement community.
Attending the event, the Member of Parliament for Woking, Jonathan Lord MP said: “I’m thrilled to have been invited to mark the fantastic progress being made on this key project. I know that reaching this crucial milestone today will mean so much to so many in the local community who are looking forward to enjoying a thriving new village centre here in West Byfleet.”
Botanical Place is being developed as an integrated retirement community at the centre of the village of West Byfleet, on the site of the former Sheer House office block and shopping precinct. RVG’s mission is to create sustainable communities, connected to thriving local centres, breathing new life into urban and suburban neighbourhoods and country locations.
The scheme will be home to 197 apartments for people of retirement age to buy or rent. Community is at the heart of this development, focusing on upholding independence, flexibility and wellbeing. Health and wellbeing amenities will be available on site, as well as a range of services and retail options for the wider public.
A new, landscaped public square will provide a central focus with surrounding shops, a restaurant and a public library, and retaining a view through to St John's Church.
Stewart Moore, Chief Operating Officer at Retirement Villages, said: “Despite the current challenges facing the construction sector, working with our colleagues at Higgins Partnerships, we are delighted to have reached this significant milestone on our Botanical Place project. Being the first of our new generation of sustainable, integrated in-town developments, we are excited to be working on this project of great importance to us as an organisation and the local community here in West Byfleet.”
Steve Leakey, Managing Director at Higgins Partnerships, said: “This Green Shovel event marks an important moment in the start of work on site to deliver this exciting whole life net-zero carbon retirement development. We are proud to be working in partnership with Retirement Villages Group and look forward to building on the successful relationships they have already created with the local community to deliver employment and training opportunities as well as working with groups to provide volunteering and fundraising initiatives.”
Photograph from left to right: Steve Leakey, Managing Director - Higgins Partnerships, Jonathan Lord MP, Neal Haywood, Director of Project Management - Retirement Villages Group Ltd
