Aster Group and C&C opens 170-home affordable development for over 55S

London over-55s living provider Central & Cecil Housing Trust (C&C) has opened a new large-scale affordable housing development in London.

The development is the first major housing project completed by the Trust since it merged with housing association Aster Group earlier this year.

Grace House is a 170-apartment scheme in London suburb St John’s Wood that replaces Dora House, a later living scheme demolished in 2020. Approximately 60 former residents of Dora House have moved back to the new development, which houses 153 affordable living apartments and 17 for private rent.

The site includes a communal lounge, several gardens (including a roof garden and winter garden), flexible activity spaces, a gym and space for a café and salon.

Julia Ashley, business development director at Aster Group, said: “Grace House is the benchmark for modern affordable living. It is built to be fully adaptable and provides elegant accessible housing for people as they age. Sustainability is at the heart of the development with solar panels, air source heat pumps and electric vehicle charging points.

“It is a flagship development for C&C and Aster which reimagines what over-55s supported living can be. We’ve not only built an amazing home for our residents in St John’s Wood, we’ve also created a blueprint for how the entire Group will invest in expanding our portfolio to include more specialised facilities that meet the evolving needs of our customers across the south.”

Social housing leader and member of the House of Lords, Lord Richard Best OBE, will officially open the site at a ceremony in late-October.