Harrington Care Homes and Perseus to deliver 80-bed scheme

Harrington Care Homes has acquired a site in Twickenham, London, from Whitbread Plc, working alongside Perseus Land & Developments.

The asset, which was home to the former Fountain Beefeater restaurant and Premier Inn hotel, was acquired on an unconditional basis after Whitbread’s decision to close it this year.

Harrington and Perseus plan to redevelop the site as a three-storey, 80-bed residential and nursing care home. The proposed property will be owned and operated by Harrington and help address the local need for modern care accommodation, creating around 75 full-time equivalent jobs once open.

The setting will offer a central reception area, café/bistro, meeting space, hairdressing salon, physiotherapy and wellbeing suite, Namaste lounge and cinema room, alongside themed lounges, dining and activity rooms. Assisted bathrooms, a nurses’ station and staff facilities will support the delivery of care. Outside, residents will have access to gardens, terraces and raised planters for gardening activities.

Plans would reduce the area devoted to hardstanding and parking, introduce 30 trees and deliver more than 10% biodiversity net gain onsite. Designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating, the building will incorporate air source heat pumps and solar photovoltaic panels.

‘As a family-run care provider, we want to create a home that feels part of the Twickenham community. Our plans are centred on the people who will live there: providing excellent residential and nursing care with compassion, dignity and respect, and a welcoming place where families can remain closely involved,’ said Rishi Dhamecha, managing director of Harrington Care Homes.

Will Chambers, director of Perseus Land & Developments, added: ‘Working alongside Harrington Care Homes and the consultant team, the plans are shaping up really well with the objective of creating a welcoming, energy efficient, purpose-built home that will serve the local community for decades to come. Whitbread and its advisers were a pleasure to deal with, being straightforward and professional throughout the transaction.’

Perseus and Harrington have started a pre-application process with the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. A planning application is forecast for winter, following an ongoing public consultation. Subject to planning approval, construction could begin in 2027, with the home opening in late 2028 or early 2029.