A WINCHESTER charity is forging ahead with its city centre expansion plans.

Contractors began preparatory works at St John's Colebrook Street site on March 1.

This development will see 15 new almshouses connected directly to the existing community to enable more elderly people to live independently for longer.

Residents will benefit from a state-of-the-art block of apartments. The homes will be adaptable to the individual needs of the resident.

St John’s chair of trustees, Roger Bright, said: “We are at an exciting stage of the charity’s development. We have much work to do and are considering plans to expand further the accommodation and community support we offer. We are delighted to be working with talented architects and contractors to expand housing opportunities for older people in the city.”

The new almshouses will be integrated with the existing Southside almshouses and will sit in a landscaped garden.

They will bring the added benefit of the reformation of a character building, namely 108 Colebrook Street, which will be re-purposed into two flats and a maisonette suitable for older people.

Within this listed building, there will also be a beauty salon, assisted bathroom, and a treatment room.

Clive Cook, chief executive, said: “The Colebrook Street site will allow the St John’s almshouse community to endure and flourish in the city within a modern setting, with occupiers of the new units having the benefit of integration into our existing community and direct access to our wonderful city centre.

"We are mindful of the impact of the construction works on the local community and will do all we reasonably can to minimise that impact.”

St John’s Winchester currently supports local people aged sixty plus through its independent living almshouse community, which consists of four sites in Winchester (St John’s North, St John’s South, St John’s Mary Magdalen, and Christes Hospital).

Additionally, its care home, St John’s Moorside, provides for people with dementia.