Campus for Ageing & Vitality – A World leading place on the Spectrum of Independence in Newcastle

Newcastle University acquired the former Newcastle General Hospital site in 2019 to build upon its internationally renowned research programmes and with a view to realising its vision of creating on this 29-acre site a mix of accommodation solutions. Later Living will be integral to the site. The ambition is to create a world leader in the ageing and the longevity economy, a beacon for Intergenerational living where people can age in place.

The appointment of a national place making Developer will assist in making the Campus for Ageing & Vitality (CAV) a destination place. Genr8 Kajima Regeneration have been selected as Development Partner, under a Joint Venture arrangement with the University. The JV are also positioning themselves with both regional and national grant giving bodies and are undertaking commercial market research for products such as Build-to-Rent and Co-living.

Informed by the HAPPI design principles, we have undertaken significant market research into what is best of class in terms of a Later Living offer. We have visited places both in Europe and the UK with our findings being as follows;

Mix of accommodation solutions

Extra Care alone will not provide the richness and diversity of offer to prospective residents. We will also introduce, Retirement Living, Tyneside flats and Co-housing solutions. In addition, we will use the scale of CAV with its ambitions to develop up to 1,000 homes, spin out offices, research facilities, leisure, health and pocket parks to provide a truly inter-generational feel and vibrancy.

Mid-market offer

The Later Living market is polarised between homes for high-net-worth individuals and affordable products. Due to the significant growth in the silver economy we are exploring how to deliver a private but more affordable product which will capture a whole new demographic.

Technology

It’s essential that technology enabled care is embedded in the design brief for CAV. This will help reduce social isolation, care costs and help stimulate a sense of community.

Lifelong learning

We have seen fantastic examples where it’s a condition for residents to sign up to University courses. Stimulating people in their later years through learning is something that we are interested in exploring.

Extra Care facilities becoming community assets

Great examples exist of this across the UK including here in Newcastle as captured in the Housing LIN in their Walker Tree Top Village case study where beauty salons and restaurants are part of the fabric of the local community.

People-centred design brief

It’s really important that on CAV we aren’t too prescriptive and give people what we think they want. That is why the Co-housing agenda is very important and that we hopefully provide them with what they need, which is very much the opportunity to age in place

Research is the Golden Thread of the vision on CAV and the Later Living development will play an integral part in carrying out its Urban Test Bed research programmes which is carried out in people’s homes and within the wider community.

Importantly, the Later Living partner will be expected to enter into Research programmes, led by the University and we are currently exploring how that research could extend into the providers stock as well, potentially giving access to thousands of homes.

We are now producing the brief for the procurement of a Later Living partner working with local government, academia and health partners.

In summary, Newcastle University can create something really special on CAV once a partner is appointed. CAV will offer an urban Later Living development where residents can work with researchers to help create a better future for longer healthier lives

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This blog is published to coincide with HAPPI Awareness Week (12-16 December 2022). Find out more about the ‘care ready’ HAPPI design principles here. 

If you found this of interest, you can also watch the recording of the Housing LIN HAPPI Hour webinar that took place on 25 October 2022 which featured CAV here.