Market analysis A six-monthly review undertaken by


CSI Market Intelligence shows that care home closures for the first six months of 2021 were the same as in 2020, while openings were up by 6.5 per cent on 2020, and 35 per cent higher than 2019. The openings provided around 4,400 new beds and, due to the average size of a care home that opened being larger than those that closed, this resulted in a net increase of around 1,000 beds. While it has been a very difficult period,


we have seen operators, developers and investors take a longer-term approach and they have continued to invest, acquire land and build new homes. This is a trend shared by Virgin Money, with our development pipeline the strongest it has been in over eight years, with new schemes being funded across the UK. I regularly track planning applications


submitted through the Estates Gazette and have seen no shortage of activity across the market in recent months. Frontier Estates and LNT Group have dominated the market over the last 12 months, with both companies submitting 16 planning applications each. This equates to just over 2,100 new beds if all 32 schemes are built. While we have seen an increase in


activity, it is not without its challenges. Land has become more expensive, at over £30,000 per bed, and stiff competition is evident from house builders looking to acquire the same parcels of land for residential development, which puts further upward pressure on prices. That said, we continue to see large


residential developments include a dedicated area for C2 use, which


usually assists with their overall planning application and complements the scheme.


The resident experience The design and specification of homes has also changed significantly in the last five years. The optimum size for new homes was previously around 60-70 beds but this seems to have increased to 70-80 in recent years. Not only has the number of rooms increased but also the overall floor space with some operators now building over 60 square metres per resident. Yet when is big too big? The now usual modern design features


are still a given but there is also more flair - indoor water features, for example - but the focus is very much on the resident experience. Executive chefs, hospitality managers and activity coordinators all now feature in many homes, which really give the resident a five-star hotel feel. The impact from the pandemic has


also meant that outdoor space has become even more important in the overall design, given inside visits were not permitted during lockdown. No longer do you see just a planted garden, but often a well thought out landscape, with various break-out sections, which help stimulate the residents. Garden pods for visiting are now common and even garden toilets feature in some homes, ensuring residents can spend even more time in the outdoor space. Technology is also a vital element of


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any new care home to ensure resident safety, with the inclusion of acoustic monitoring, CCTV and digital care planning, but also for their entertainment. Four in ten over-75s use the internet on a regular basis, and its use has been accelerated over the last 12-18 months with residents now using smart tables and tablets as part of their daily routine. With every care home in lockdown,


the ability to make video calls to enable residents to see family and friends was paramount and kept people connected. The wellbeing benefits of using technology have been huge and it is therefore important to ensure the correct infrastructure is installed within the initial design at the outset. While the primary focus continues


to be on the resident, we have seen a big shift towards staff and their own welfare and wellbeing, with better facilities back of house, including changing facilities, kitchens and break rooms, but also the ability to access dedicated help and support if needed. A perfect example of this is the Care


Workers’ Charity (CWC), which was set up in 2009 with the objective of supporting current and former care workers with one-off crisis grants. Supported by Virgin Money, this includes one-off payments to support someone experiencing an unforeseen or life-changing circumstance, such as bereavement, illness or injury. 2020 was undoubtedly a difficult year for everyone, and the social care sector


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com • November 2021


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