Work starts on new Coventry care home on site of former church

Construction is underway on a 38-bedroom care home for adults with complex needs in Coventry.

The new care home in the Radford area of the city will be named Birch View and is the fifth development being built by Deeley Construction in partnership with leading UK care provider Exemplar Health Care.

The three-storey home, designed by Watson Batty Architects, is being built on the former site of St Nicholas Church and will reflect the architectural style of the former church.

Development partners and representatives from the Diocese of Coventry joined together at a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of work.

Birch View will provide nursing care for adults living with complex needs arising from brain injuries, dementia, mental health conditions, neuro-disabilities and physical disabilities.

Work is expected to be completed in Spring 2026 with the first residents moving in by Summer.

It will include features on each floor to support nursing care, as well as dining rooms, quiet rooms and lounge areas, alongside a therapy room, sensory garden and an activities hub and visitors suite for visiting family members.

Birch View will be Exemplar Health Care’s first care home in Coventry and its seventh in the West Midlands.

When completed, the home is expected to create 100 new healthcare jobs, with a diverse range of positions available from care and nursing to management and administration.

Paul Simmons, Head of Construction at Exemplar Health Care, said: “Our aim is to make every day better for the people we support by providing person-centred care that focuses on maximising independence, building everyday living skills and empowering people.

“Once complete, the home will create a significant number of local healthcare employment opportunities, whilst also making sure the local community has access to a much-needed complex needs care service. It’s our ambition for the home to be a place where our residents can be part of the community, whether through visiting local attractions, work placements or local events.” 

Work starting follows the completion of demolition and remediation works on the site after receiving planning consent from Coventry City Council in September 2024.

Features including the church’s bells, cross and plaque were collected prior to the demolition and have been retained for future use.

Deeley Group, which is headquartered in Coventry and includes Deeley Construction, has worked with the land owners to bring forward the re-development of the former church site.

Martin Gallagher, Managing Director at Deeley Construction, said: “For more than 85 years we have delivered projects that have had lasting positive impact on communities in Coventry.

“This new care home, being delivered in partnership with Exemplar Health Care, continues that track record and will address the growing need for adults with complex care needs in Coventry.

“During initial works, we have been careful to save, protect and retain a collection of key features of the former church, which will now be repurposed by the diocese.”

Stephen Davenport, of the Diocese of Coventry, added: “It has been of utmost importance to the Diocese that any development on the site was of benefit to the local community and we are delighted that the care home will not only provide help for those receiving support but will offer new career opportunities in Radford. 

“The church community at St Nicholas continue to meet in the church hall, we are very grateful for their grace, patience and support throughout the process. Proceeds from the sale of land will be used for development of St Francis Church, Radford. This will benefit both the church and the local community.”