A new purpose-built care home with 70 bedrooms and offering luxurious living for its residents has launched in Soham.
Townsend Manor, in Evershed Fields, is hoping to have its first residents officially move in and make themselves at home within a fortnight.
To celebrate the project’s completion, the town’s community came together to raise a glass and take a tour of the building.
Morar Living, the company running the care home, says the home features “luxurious interiors”, a “wealth of amenities” and gardens that “offer quiet spaces for contemplation”.
Its website said: “The five-star luxury complex will accommodate residents from both private and public sectors, this purpose built 70 bedroom home will feature luxurious interiors and a wealth of amenities and services.
“Light flooded living spaces of the highest quality as are the cafés, lounges and social areas where residents can catch up with fellow residents or guests.
“Carefully designed gardens offer quiet spaces for contemplation where people will feel at ease, relax and enjoy a breathe of fresh air.
“Expertly designed, the home will meet and exceed all current care inspectorate requirements and will provide the highest standards of safety, comfort and care.”
The building has created 35 jobs so far, with potentially up to 100 roles available when the home is at capacity.
It has a wide variety of social areas, including a private dining room for residents to use with family and friends.
There is also a drawing room, vintage tea room, a hair salon, games room, activity room, family kitchens and a café/bar area.
“... each providing areas for recreation and enjoyment for residents and their loved ones,” the website says.
Councillor Elizabeth Johnston, the Mayor of Soham, was among the first visitors through the doors.
The home was initially called Ely Manor, but she was pleased this was changed to Townsend Manor following a community consultation.
It means the care home is now named after one of the families who previous owned land and farmed in the area, and better reflects the area’s heritage.
The road's name was also amended from The Shade to Evershed Fields, in honour of the Soham nurse Mollie Evershed who helped save 75 servicemen as their ship sunk during the D-Day invasion.
Morar Living has 10 care homes listed on its website, the majority of which are located in Scotland.
Townsend Manor is the first to be opened in England and was built by Simply UK, a real estate developer and investment company.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here