A MASSIVE increase in the need for care homes, sheltered housing and other types of accommodation for a steadily ageing population means the services of a Hampshire architectural practice, which has widespread recognition for its expertise in the field, are in big demand.

Pro Vision, based at Ampfield, has an expanding client base of developers of such accommodation, resulting from what director, Scot Masker, calls “the countdown to a life-expectancy time bomb”.

People are living longer and this, coupled with projected rises in the numbers suffering illnesses such as dementia and Alzheimers, is prompting the need for more property development.

What is more, says Scot, regional migration trends are putting further pressure on the planning system in parts of the South where elderly people choose to live. “The demographic time bomb has meant we are seeing a greater diversity of client types developing accommodation for the elderly, especially in and around southern coastal towns.

“We provide services to the owners and operators of existing nursing and residential homes where occupancy may be at or near 100 per cent and also to landowners seeking new-build development.”

Pro Vision recently secured planning permission for a 13-bed unit specialising in dementia care at the Westbury House Nursing Home in West Meon.

The home, which is already registered for 70 residents, is looking to expand because of the demographic changes in the area.

Proprietor, Irvine Naqvi, said: “Pro Vision has established itself in the industry and understands what care home businesses need to provide for the future.

“Because of the legislation governing care facilities, you need a consultancy on board that understands the necessary design specifications whether converting existing properties or providing purpose-built accommodation." For another client, with property in Horndean, Pro Vision has recently secured planning permission for a large new care home complex.

The plan involves demolishing the 27-bed Acacia House residential nursing home and building a 106-bed care home plus 12 assisted living flats.

Pro Vision acted for operator Contemplation Homes in gaining planning permission and also provided construction budget estimates for the project.

The practice also won outline approval for clients, Humphrey Farms, to develop a large care home complex as part of a mixed use scheme on the site of a former feed mill and stores at Northfields Farm in Twyford near Winchester. Further afield, all 153 properties have now been sold at a new retirement village in Cawston, Rugby, where Pro Vision acted for former landowners, Federal Mogul.

The development, Lime Tree Village, is now owned and marketed by the retirement living provider, Retirement Villages.

Other Pro Vision clients in the care home and retirement sectors include English Oak, Cambian Healthcare and the Brendoncare Foundation.

The trend in the demand for more care home and retirement provision reflects the latest statistics on the ageing population, released by the Office for National Statistics in August, 2009.

They show that, by 2033, nearly a quarter of the population will be aged 65 and over. Over the same period, the number of people aged 85 and over is projected to more than double to reach 3.2 million, five per cent of the total population.

“With this rate of demographic change, there is likely to be continuing pressure to identify new sites and pursue new projects,” said Scot.

“We are constantly updating our systems and training our staff to ensure that we are at the forefront of meeting clients’ needs in this area of work.”