Telling the story of Hartfields: A new retirement village for the twenty-first century

In 2008 the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust, in partnership with Hartlepool Borough Council and other local agencies, opened the DH funded Hartfields retirement village in Hartlepool. This study tracks key decisions made and challenges faced as the scheme developed. It found that:

  • It is crucial to develop realistic expectations and an understanding of what these schemes can offer residents.
  • Locating GPs and specialist nurses in the scheme provides opportunities to promote healthy living and well-being in later life, both for residents and the wider community.
  • It is important for planners to understand how the local community and culture will shape the new community that evolves.