Construction and development company, Real, has topped out The Burren, a development for Cornerstone Healthcare Group at Imperial Park, a site 2.5 miles from Bristol city centre.   

Cornerstone Healthcare Group provides specialist care for vulnerable people with challenging behaviours associated with complex neurological, physical, and mental health issues.

The site comprises 80 en-suite bedrooms across two storeys.

And the Burren has been specially designed by consultancy Northstar Projects in accordance with dementia-friendly guidance and for the complex needs of the residents.

The building is divided into five ‘household units’, each with 16 bedrooms plus its own lounge, dining room, bathroom, and nursing rooms.

Onsite commercial kitchen and laundry facilities to service the building are located on the upper floors and there is also a living garden and rooftop terrace.   

The site was previously home to the historic Wills Tobacco factory, with the south east corner providing car parking space for the factory.

The entire former industrial site has now been developed into four plots as part of a major regeneration project, including this new care home, totalling 1.28 acres, as well as housing and retail space.  

Significant redevelopment of the area was necessary for construction to take place as the ground had been scrapped, levelled, and left to form general scrubland, enclosed with a timber and metal fence.

The site is also adjacent to a woodland ‘wildlife corridor’ which contains trees covered by an Area Tree Preservation Order.   

Imperial Park is targeting BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating, a condition of planning consent granted by Bristol City Council, as part of its vision to be one of the leading local authorities on climate change and sustainability.

To this end, the project uses low-carbon technologies and renewable energy.

The design and development of the project has also been guided by compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulations 2014 and the Care Quality Commission Regulations 2009.   

Regional director for Real South West, Alan Hope, said: “We are proud to be working with Cornerstone Healthcare on this specialist project which will provide care for some of society’s most vulnerable.

“This aligns with our core values of being a people-based business, acting with integrity and inclusion.” 

Cornerstone Healthcare Group chief executive, Johann van Zyl, adds: “Now the roof is complete, I’m certain that we’ll see the inside of the building come on in leaps and bounds.

“The teamwork between our construction partners, Real, and project management partners, Northstar, is second to none and that is producing a fantastic, sector-leading healthcare service here in Bristol.”