The foundations are just being laid yet in only a year’s time the first residents will moving into bpha’s £7.5m sheltered housing scheme in Bury St Edmunds.

Due to open in August 2010, the new scheme at Moreton Hall will offer 52 one and two bedroom self-contained flats for older residents (aged 55 and over).

As well as lounges, a dining room and a hair salon, facilities will include a therapy room and even a cinema. Some of these facilities could be open to the public.

ris Howlett, Care Partnerships Assistant Director at developer bpha said: “This is an exciting development both for bpha and for the local area – I think people will really like the new homes on offer, which will be of exceptionally high quality.”

“We will take St Edmundsbury Council and Suffolk County Council’s understanding of local needs and add that to the experience we and our care partner, the Orders of St John Care Trust, and builder SDC can bring from similar developments.

“Using the combined experience of all the partners involved we hope to create something very special for older people in the area.”

The scheme will offer properties to rent through nomination by the local council and will also offer properties to buy through shared ownership.

A show home will be available from February although prospective residents will be able to reserve shared ownership properties straight away.