Happy New Year! 2013 was a wonderful year for MHA. We celebrated our Platinum Anniversary and opened a number of new services for older people, including the first phase of our retirement village, The Fairways in Chippenham, Victoria Court in Headingley, Leeds, Adlington House in Stockport and additional apartments at Edina Court, Wisbech.
Throughout 2014, we will continue to expand our services to reach as many older people as we can. We will start work on our next retirement village, Mickle Hill, in Pickering, which got the green light last year. These 90 apartments and 78 bungalows will be served by a restaurant, coffee shop and hairdressing and beauty salons. We also have plans for a new retirement village in Corsham, Wiltshire, where 190 apartments will be served by a range of care options and facilities such as a swimming pool and village centre. In addition, we will begin building 50 new assisted living apartments in Peterborough, and 37 new assisted living apartments in Swindon and complete The Fairways with 75 apartments and a health and fitness spa. Work will be completed on our third partnership development with Gladman providing 60 apartments in Wolstanton whilst building work will begin on the fourth in Portishead.
It’s important to remember that all this work is not being done for profit. MHA is a charity. We create new services to provide quality and choice for as many older people as possible, and all our income is reinvested into providing services now and into the future.
Here’s to 2014!
Jane Barker
Group Director – Retirement Living
MHA (Methodist Homes) 
It’s lovely to hear about all the new homes you are providing for the elderly. I am concerned about the existing homes which are being left to rot. I am a leaseholder at The Dovecotes in Coventry I have lived here for 6 years. The Dovecotes is in a beautiful location and could be a beautiful estate if it was maintained better and if we had a proper Retirement Housing Manager. A manager who is experienced in managing leasehold flats. I think our complex is unique in that we buy the lease to our apartment where with other schemes the properties are rented. Some may say there is no difference but believe me there is big difference.I am happy to send you a list of jobs that need doing here.
Yours sincerely
S. Holloway.
MHA has an annual programme of upgrades, improvements and, where necessary, rebuilds for its properties to try to ensure that they meet modern standards and the needs of today’s older people.
We have a large number of leasehold developments and, in consultation with leaseholders, we seek to agree an annual plan of works within the cost envelope which they can agree is affordable and value for money. Having a suitably qualified Manager to run each scheme of leasehold apartments is very important. As you will be aware we are beginning recruitment for a new Manager for the Dovecotes.
Please feel free to send your list to me at enquiries@mha.org.uk so that I can ensure all points are addressed.
Thank you for your comment.