October 9, 2018 8.00 am This story is over 65 months old

Age UK developing new Horncastle complex

Land has been secured close to the town centre
Age UK Lindsey trustee and Partner at Wilkin Chapman solicitors Claire Parker joins Chief Executive Officer Andrew Storer at the site which the charity is looking to transform.

Age UK Lindsey are hoping to start work on a new complex in a year’s time as part of a vision to transform services for older people in the Horncastle area.

Land has been secured on South Street close to the town centre and on a bus route, with parking included in the plan.

Outline planning permission has been granted and Age UK Lindsey is now finalising its scheme ahead of an application for full consent, with a hopeful start date in a year’s time.

The new facility will include activity and meeting space, conference facilities and small business units for services aligned to the age group.

The building will also have dedicated office space for the 30 town-based team members, while six adjoining one and two-bedroom apartments will be available for rent.

Grant funding and a number of other fundraising initiatives are now underway to fund the project for Age UK Lindsey, which is responsible for services across both East and West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire and has its headquarters in Horncastle.

Chief Executive Officer Andrew Storer said: “At the moment our Age UK team here in Horncastle works out of several offices, with the kind of infrastructure that comes with old buildings.

“What we have here is a vision to transform what we are able to offer. When you look forward, you will see an older population in our area that will rise to 28 per cent of our total over the next two decades. If you reflect on that, you will understand our need to develop facilities that are fit-for-purpose.

“It is not only advice and information services that are required, but activities and support to combat loneliness and isolation. Within our elderly community we have some of the most vulnerable people in society and with our social and health services clearly creaking, we must look at how we can develop to fill that vital need.”

Partner and Head of the Wolds’ offices at Wilkin Chapman solicitors, Claire Parker has been on the trustee’s board for almost 20 years us delighted to be involved in this development.

She said: “The facilities we have, have held us back in terms of both securing the charity’s future and enhancing the services the team can deliver. As trustees, we have had this high on our agenda for many years and it is therefore wonderful that we are able to look forward in this way.”