Work has started on the £45m first phase of Widmore Park Village in Sonning Common, South Oxfordshire. 

Developer and operator of integrated retirement communities, Inspired Villages, and main contractor Farrans Construction celebrated the ground breaking milestone. 

The first phase of works will include 73 homes for over-65s and a wellness suite within the village centre. 

The Widmore Park community, once delivered in full, will provide 133 homes for around 150 over 65s, as well as facilities including a restaurant, cafe, hairdressers, library and a wellness centre with a swimming pool and a gym with a fitness studio. Some of these features such as the gym, pool, restaurant and café will be open and accessible to the wider community. 

The development will provide further benefit to the local area and economy by creating over 100 construction roles and more than 40 operational positions once complete. 

The two organisations are also working to support the local community.

Widmore Park will join a fast-growing pipeline that puts Inspired Villages on track to deliver its plan to establish 34 communities comprising 5,100 homes for 8,000 individuals aged 65 and above.