ABBEYFIELD Belfast, which provides supported living for older people, has opened Harberton Hall, a state of the art £7.5 million luxury facility in south Belfast.
Creating more than 15 jobs, the 38,750 square foot development is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and marks a step-change in the provision of care for older people.
Providing both comfort and security, Harberton Hall boasts 32 one- and two-bedroomed self-contained apartments, a restaurant, hair salon, reading gallery, arts and crafts room, exercise studio and landscaped gardens, and it has already secured 60 per cent occupancy levels.
The ambitious project took two years to complete and was closely managed by Niki Molloy, chief executive with Abbeyfield Belfast, which was established in 1960.
She said: “Harberton Hall, like our other four ‘houses’, has been inspired by the Abbeyfield ethos of making time for older people.
“The new facility is the direct result of talking to residents and delivering a purpose-built ideal living environment where they can thrive in a supportive and engaging atmosphere.
“Loneliness and isolation are very common problems for older people living in their own homes and this has been exacerbated with the pandemic.
“Our residents will have the best of both worlds – a fully equipped luxury apartment where they can entertain or just enjoy their privacy, alongside a local community of peers with whom they can engage whenever they wish.”
A funding package of £4 million was provided by Barclays, Abbeyfield Belfast’s corporate banking partner, to support the development and the charity’s day-to-day operational requirements.
Louise Tiffney, relationship director at Barclays Corporate Banking in Northern Ireland said: “Harberton Hall is a fabulous new concept in assisted living for Northern Ireland, and the team at Abbeyfield Belfast is committed to providing its residents with the freedom of choice to live independently, but safe in the knowledge that they have companionship and support as and when they require it.
“We're delighted to be supporting Abbeyfield Belfast in the provision of their long-term Corporate banking requirements. Our relationship model has already added value to the Harberton Hall project by exploring the project’s digital potential for both staff and residents, as well as recognising Abbeyfield’s commercial approach combined with a value-based proposition.”
