A £5.8 MILLION housing development for older people built on the former site of a dairy has been unveiled.

The affordable housing scheme, on the site of the former St Ivel factory in Cloatley Crescent, Royal Wootton Bassett, was launched with a tree-planting ceremony on Thursday.

Members of the Royal Wootton Bassett branch of the Royal British Legion were on hand to don a shovel for ceremony.

The development, named Dairy View, has been built by Housing & Care 21, and consists of 48 self-contained one- and two-bedroom apartments for rent, with support and care services on site.

The St Ivel factory site closed in 2003, and the project was built by Bouygues UK on behalf of Housing & Care 21, in partnership with Wiltshire Council.

It also received a Homes & Communities Agency grant of £820,000, as well as a local authority contribution of £300,000.

Kris Peach, director of extra care at Housing & Care 21, said: “We’re delighted to launch these 48 new much-needed affordable homes at Dairy View.

“These extra care apartments allow older people to maintain their independence, socialise with others and be part of a community and have access to care facilities on site should they need them.”

The event was attended by Keith Humphries, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, who said the scheme was a good example of private and public investment.

"Dairy View will provide fantastic and welcoming accommodation alongside high-quality support and care services," he said.

"This scheme is a wonderful example of what can be achieved through positive partnership working and I’m sure it will benefit residents in the local area and across Wiltshire for many years to come."

Mikel Berrebi, Bouygues UK regional managing director, said: “Developments like Dairy View are essential to addressing the lack of suitable housing for the town’s older people; as well as the social isolation that some of the older residents in our communities face on a daily basis.

"We’re happy to be working with Housing & Care 21 and Wiltshire Council to increase the number of homes available for older people living in the area.”

A show home is now open at the scheme, which also offers communal facilities including a coffee bar serving hot food, hair salon, residents’ lounge and laundry room, as well as landscaped gardens.

Anyone interested in applying for a rental property should contact Wiltshire Council on 0300 4560 104. To be eligible for an apartment, you will need to be over 55 years old and require housing-related support and/or have a social care need, as well as having a local connection to Wiltshire.