A £26 MILLION state-of-the-art housing with care scheme is on track to open next year, as foundations at the Wimpson Lane site in Southampton are laid.

Named Potters Court, the Millbrook development was visited by city council adult care chief Lorna Fielker, who checked on the progress of the project.

Once complete, the housing scheme will offer 99 purpose-built, affordable homes, including 84 apartments for residents with an “assessed care need”, plus 15 general needs flats for the over 50s. This will make it the largest housing with care facility in Southampton.

Cllr Fielker was given a tour of the construction site by Robert Page, Potters Court project manager at Southampton-based Drew Smith Group and accompanied by Paul Juan, who has responsibility for housing and adult care at the council.

She said: “It’s fascinating to hear about the environmental aspects of the site, such as ground and air source heat pumps which will sustainably heat residents homes, and I am looking forward to seeing the scheme develop and take shape.”

The complex will include a community café, a restaurant, hairdressing and wellbeing facilities and a programme of activities.

It will benefit from energy-efficiency measures and technical innovations. The gas fired heating system supplemented by both ground and air source heat pumps, will provide the underfloor heating and hot water to each apartment. Once complete the roof of the building will also accommodate solar panels to meet the communal electrical demand and car charging points.