Work begins on £36m redevelopment of Hammerson House

Expansion of Jewish charity's Barnet-based social care facility starts, which will see its capacity increased to house 116 residents

Work has begun on Nightingale Hammerson’s £36 million redevelopment of Hammerson House in North London, with charity bosses meeting project managers to check on progress.

The Jewish charity, which provides care for the elderly, was given the go-ahead to redevelop the Bishops Avenue site by Barnet Council late last year, as the charity hopes to increase capacity to home up to 116 residents in en-suite rooms.

Designers hope to “take advantage of the site’s natural woodland setting,” between Highgate and Hampstead, “embracing the proven therapeutic benefits of natural light and connections to the landscape for those in the later years of life”.

The new building will include “lounges opening up to sheltered winter gardens, sociable spaces and specialised spaces for Namaste care, a therapy specifically designed to improve the quality of life for residents living with advanced dementia”.

Nightingale Hammerson chair Melvin Lawson said: “Our vision is a modern, stimulating residential care facility where our residents will feel at home, with a warm welcome for visiting family and friends.”