Work has started on a new 105-bed St Mary’s Care Home in Stone, marking the first stage of a wider redevelopment of the historic St Dominic’s Convent site.
The new facility will provide residential, nursing, dementia and palliative care, while further phases of the project will see the convent converted into retirement accommodation and new senior living apartments built.
The existing St Mary’s Care Home on Margaret Street will remain open throughout construction, with residents continuing to receive care while the new building takes shape.
The new care home will be operated by HCMS, which already manages the existing facility.
Funding for the development was announced in September, when Hampshire Trust Bank confirmed a £16.9 million development finance facility for the 105-bed scheme. The plans include a 70-bed elderly care home and a separate 35-bed high-dependency unit.
Three phases planned for the site
Once the new care home is completed, attention will turn to St Dominic’s Convent on Station Road.
The Grade II listed building, which dates from the 19th century, is due to be converted into independent retirement living accommodation.
A third phase will involve the construction of St Margaret’s Residential, a new block of apartments for older people.
Cavaleri Developments will oversee construction and delivery of all three phases on behalf of St Mary’s Care Home (Stone) Ltd.
The development has been planned for several years. A Little Bit of Stone reported in May 2022 that Stafford Borough Council had approved proposals for the redevelopment, which were first submitted in 2018.
The site has long been associated with the Dominican Sisters, who first established themselves in Stone in 1843. The convent was built during the 1850s and remains an important part of the town’s architectural and religious history.
Mariano Cavaleri, director of Cavaleri Developments, said
“We are also very conscious of the history of this site and the legacy of the Dominican Congregation. This development is about respecting that heritage while ensuring the site continues to serve the people of Stone and Staffordshire for generations to come.
“The groundbreaking for the new care home is an exciting first step towards bringing that vision to life.”
Existing care home to remain open
Kevin Groombridge, executive chairman of HCMS, said the development would provide updated facilities while maintaining the care currently available at St Mary’s.
He said
“Importantly, the existing care home will continue operating throughout the building programme.
Residents and their families can be reassured that their care, wellbeing and daily routines will remain our absolute priority.”
The announcement confirms that work is underway on the first phase, although a completion date for the new care home and a timetable for the remaining phases have not been provided.
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