Today, The Mount is a busy construction site. For more than two years, Aedifica has been working with three partners on a plan to redevelop the outdated building into a state-of-the-art care home. Now that all permits have been obtained, shovels have finally hit the ground. By mid-2026, a new home will open its doors here to welcome 65 residents. No effort has been spared in the design to ensure the building contributes as much as possible to the wellbeing of the residents and integrate the facility into the local community. William Selby, Aedifica’s UK Asset & Investment Manager, shows us around and gives us a sneak preview.
Our collaborative approach allows us to deliver a superior building.
William Selby
Asset & Investment Manager
‘The old building had not been up to modern standards for some time before it was demolished. When we started thinking about what to do with the property, it quickly became clear that it deserved more than just a refurbishment,’ says William, who has been managing the project for Aedifica since 2022. The care home is located in Wargrave, an affluent village near Henly on Thames just 20 km from London with a growing demand for healthcare properties. To unlock the full value potential of its location, it was decided to partner with Hamberley Care Homes – an experienced top-tier operator – and double the capacity of the site to 65 residents.
‘Our objective was to transform The Mount from a ‘bottom 5’ to a ‘top 5’ building in our portfolio,’ William explains. ‘That is why we opted for a more spacious and sustainable new build. We then set about putting everything in place: formulating the business case, liaising with the authorities, applying for permissions, informing local residents and, of course, carefully selecting the right partners to shape this project under Aedifica’s vision according to their specific expertise,’ William adds.
In addition to care operator Hamberley Care Homes, the project involves FED 3 Project Managers, Pozzoni architects – specialists in designing care homes – and Lawrence Baker Construction – a contractor that has already completed several Aedifica care homes.
Futureproof: focus on comfort & energy efficiency
The project is Aedifica’s third collaboration with Hamberley. With 22 care homes under its management, the care operator brings extensive knowledge and experience with regard to the needs and wishes of residents. They have distilled this into a detailed operational playbook that focuses on the wellbeing of the elderly: from room size and activity rooms to easy-to-use technology, the height of light switches and even the colour of the armchairs. Nothing is left to chance to ensure the best possible care and maximum individual freedom.
Amenities will include an open plan café and reception, cinema, hair salon, private dining room, bar and activity room. There will also be space for all kinds of outdoor activities: residents will be able to walk, garden, exercise or simply sit down for a chat or a picnic.
‘We listened and reviewed the design with Hamberley. Based on our experience, especially with energy-efficient projects, we worked together in a collaborative way while remaining focused on the ‘value for money’ principle during the construction phase,’ says William.
The care home will be futureproof in every respect. It will meet the highest standards not only in terms of care and comfort, but also in terms of sustainability. The building will be equipped with energy-efficient systems: air source heat pumps will provide sustainable, all-electric heating, while expansive rooftop solar power systems will supply the building with renewable energy.
Involving the community
All the specifications are now being followed down to the last detail by enthusiastic contractor Matthew Tucker of Lawrence Baker Construction, who can now see it all taking shape. ‘The care home will have spacious corridors, plenty of storage options, easy access, various social areas, and even a Covid-secure room,’ he explains.
Matthew himself lives in Wargrave and spends a lot of time on site because of his special involvement with the project. ‘I have a soft spot for this construction site. I have taken the initiative to take local schools on regular visits to the site. Maybe I can turn my own children or their friends into future builders,’ he laughs. Matthew also focuses on the local community by hiring local workers and paying special attention to ‘streetscaping’ so as not to disturb the peaceful surroundings.
In fact, this was a requirement of the local authority: no disruption or inconvenience. These issues were also discussed with Aedifica, the driving force behind this project. ‘This is what we can achieve when we work together effectively. From concept to completion, we prioritise open communication, transparency and customer satisfaction to build the trust we need,’ William concludes. ‘Our collaborative approach allows us to deliver a superior building. What’s more, we expect to do more similar value creating projects in the near future.’
