Robertson safely completes Derbyshire care home during Covid-19 crisis

Robertson announces the completion of a much-needed care home for dementia patients in Derbyshire during Covid-19 crisis thanks to the firm’s rigid social distancing measures.

Recognised as an essential project for healthcare provision, the construction of the Belper Integrated Scheme continued under the stewardship of world-class construction firm Robertson during the lockdown period in line with Public Health England guidelines.

Now complete, the new facility comprises 40 dementia friendly residential bedrooms with associated ancillary spaces, a domestic lounge and dining area, private support spaces and a public library.

The care centre, which is part of a £10m development, is currently being prepared to be used by Derbyshire County Council to exclusively accept patients who have recently been discharged from hospital and need to recuperate in isolation after suffering from COVID-19 but are not yet ready to go home.

Situated in Belper town centre, the Scheme forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site and saw team Robertson draft in a crew of expert trades people, all highly skilled in the restoration of historic landmarks to retain and refurbish original facades bringing the site back to its former glory.

Elliot Robertson, CEO of Robertson said: "On behalf of our team who delivered the project and the wider Robertson business working behind the scenes to ensure delivery of the Belper Integrated Scheme, I want to thank Derbyshire County Council and Glancy Nicholls Architects for choosing to work with us. By implementing new safe working regulations, we were able to ensure project completion.

"We are sure that the residents who are due to move in will enjoy the new facility at the appropriate time and we wish those who will be first to experience the building a safe and speedy recovery."

The history of the location is of great interest to thousands of people across the north and has had many purposes in its time. Records show that the site has been home to the likes of Rolls Royce who used the location to store air-craft engines during WWII. Post war, the site was acquired by chocolate makers Thorntons who invested in a large scale expansion of its manufacturing operations in 1967.