ExtraCare Charitable Trust: Hagley Road Village, Birmingham

“I saw this one and thought it was rather different.”

Susan Pasint-Magyar

Number of homes: 240 (154 affordable)
Cost: £32 million

The charity took a site, which had been derelict for 14 years and subject to three previous failed planning attempts, and turned it into a 240-home retirement village, reuniting Ron and Florence Godrich in the process. The octogenarians, who have been married for 66 years, were separated for the first time in more than six decades when Mr Godrich was admitted to hospital after a fall and they were taken to different respite homes. The scheme, which includes 108 shared ownership properties and 46 for affordable rent, served by a combined heat and power facility, incorporates villa-style buildings to complement the local character. It benefited from a £1.25 million Homes and Communities Agency grant.