After nearly 18 months of planning applications, Court Royal finally obtained planning permission. It was through the persistence of Gary Reeve-Wing of Court Royal , the support of the parish council and local community that this scheme was finally given the green light. The new development will offer employment to the area in the form of 18 care jobs, more than four times the number of posts than the previous business on the site - an old coach works - provided.
Court Royal appointed GB Building Solutions as their chosen contractor partner early on in the process due to their commitment to the local community and experience in constructing care developments; they have completed over £340 million of care scheme in the last six years.
Funding for the scheme has been provided by Triodos Bank. Triodos Bank has been a leading expert in sustainable banking for over 30 years. They only lend to, and invest in, organisations that benefit people and the environment and therefore the Extracare scheme at Ticehurst was a development they believed would make a real impact on the local community.
Martin Smout, chairman and chief executive of GB Building Solutions said, “Over the last six years we have built up an impressive track record of constructing care schemes across the country providing more than 2,400 beds. This new Extracare development in East Sussex has brought about a unique partnership between contractor, developer and funder all working towards providing a scheme that will create a positive impact on the local community."
The new development is set in attractive landscaped gardens and will have flats that are spacious enough for people to entertain guests and, due to the location of the Extracare development in the centre of the village, residents will be able to make use of the facilities in the community.
Gary Reeve-Wing, owner of Court Royal Developments, said “In a difficult climate and at a time when care has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons it’s wonderful to have been able to have delivered this scheme to the residents of Ticehurst. Without their support and the strength of the partnership between ourselves, Triodos and GB it could never have taken place. It just shows what can be achieved when communities and partnerships work together.”
Triodos Bank’s Social and Cultural Team Manager, Neil Hewitt says: “At Triodos we firmly believe communities like Ticehurst can offer local solutions that provide benefits to the individual as well as contributing to the community as a whole. We are delighted to support Court Royal in this community based project that will ensure that residents can continue to live in and enjoy their local area."
Work is expected to be completed in Spring 2013.
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