News


Audley on song for Nightingale Place retirement village completion


Retirement village developer Audley has completed the £125m Nightingale Place in London following a two-year development. Developed in partnership with Apache


Capital Partners, Nightingale Place is Audley’s first luxury retirement village in London. The scheme sited next to Clapham South


tube station offers 94 apartments, including one to three-bedroom dwellings and penthouses that overlook Clapham Common. The first owners, who move in during May,


will have access to round-the-clock care and wellbeing services. Nightingale Place apartment owners will


also have access to the 17,000 square feet Audley Club, which will be open to the wider community. Facilities at the club include a library,


restaurant and bar, cinema, swimming pool and health club. During the coronavirus lockdown, owners will


be supported with social distancing, with Audley providing shopping support, meal options,


online wellbeing support including nutrition and exercise plans and numerous virtual initiatives to ensure people feel connected. Audley development director Kevin Shaw


said: “It is important at all times, but especially in exceptional circumstances, that older people have the support they need, including access to care and facilities close by. “In the current climate, the support we can


provide has been invaluable to our owners, from shopping for them and visits from our wonderful carers if needed, to a strong programme of virtual activities and entertainment.” Shaw added: “These are testing times, but


the demand for villages like ours remains extremely high, and fulfilling those needs is vital for us. Audley Nightingale Place will allow owners to downsize into a home where they can still retain their independence with the knowledge and comfort that care and wellbeing services are there for them whatever their current and future needs.”


Private equity firm snaps up Armstrong Ceiling


Solutions German private equity outfit Aurelius Equity Opportunities has completed the acquisition of Armstrong Ceiling Solutions from Knauf International. The suspended ceiling tiles and grids


manufacturer is active in 11 European countries including Austria, Estonia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the UK. Headquartered in Gateshead, England,


the business has over 260 employees and is led by five executive board members. Armstrong Ceiling Solutions also has


three distribution centres located in the UK, Germany and Spain. Aurelius said it will implement a multi-


year capital investment programme designed to deliver substantial technical and specification upgrades to both the mineral fibre and grid production facilities. “We look forward to supporting


Armstrong Ceiling Solutions and its management team during the company's next stage of development, leveraging our extensive experience working with businesses in the manufacturing sector and our operational expertise to support the company's continued growth,” said Aurelius executive board member Fritz Seemann. The investment will include an


upcoming rebrand, the company said. Armstrong Ceiling Solutions managing


Motitech puts virtual cycling pedal to the metal Motitech said it sees huge value in giving


Norwegian start-up Motitech has launched free three-month trials of its virtual cycling concept to enable UK care home residents to take part in physical activity while self-isolating. The Motiview technology allows users to


revisit familiar places from their childhoods and other important points in their lives, or travel the world, through a video projection that plays while pedalling. Using specially adapted exercise bikes or


floor pedals, residents can ‘virtually’ cycle through thousands of locations spanning Rome, Tel Aviv, London and Singapore from the safety of their own residence. The three-month trial has been backed by


representative bodies Care England and National Care Forum.


care home residents to partake in enjoyable physical activity and immerse themselves in the outside world while self-isolating during the Covid-19 pandemic. “These are exceptionally uncertain times


for all of us at the moment, and during a period where many older people and people with dementia aren’t able to go outside, it is vital that we can help not just residents, but also key care staff maintain a state of normality,” said chief business officer Stian Lavik. Via simple and clear instructions, video-


link or phone, Motitech’s tech team will provide step-by-step instructions on setting up and using the system.


April 2020 • www.thecarehomeenvironment.com 5


director Christophe Lloret Linares added: “Our employees are really excited to commence the cooperation with Aurelius, convinced that our customers and our companies will benefit from the significant investment plans being implemented, our new strategic developments, and our profitable growth." The acquisition of Armstrong Ceiling


Solutions was first announced in August 2019.


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