Langtree Care Home Opens in Standish, Designed by Alessandro Caruso Architecture and Interiors Ltd.

Nestled within a mature woodland setting in the green belt of Greater Manchester, Langtree Care Home offers 48 spacious en-suite bedrooms across three floors, carefully arranged into small home hubs to support progressive dementia care needs. The £6 million development represents a significant milestone in the evolution of compassionate, future-proof elderly care.

The design brief called for an innovative model of care that could ensure the continuity of support for residents, even in the event of future health crises. ACA responded by developing a layout that is adaptable, non-institutional, and deeply rooted in infection control strategies—without compromising on warmth, comfort, or dignity. Each household-sized hub includes communal living and dining areas, giving residents a sense of familiarity and community. Importantly, the care home features a bespoke pandemic-proof visitation pavilion, enabling safe and sustained contact with loved ones regardless of public health conditions.

Designing in a green belt site during pandemic restrictions presented multiple challenges—from limited site access to the need for virtual collaboration. ACA undertook COVID-safe site visits and extensive consultations with healthcare professionals to craft a solution that seamlessly blends advanced clinical functionality with environmental sensitivity. The resulting scheme includes large private bedrooms with en-suites and landscape views, a separate staff entrance and exit to manage infection risk, an indoor therapeutic garden, art and therapy rooms, bird-watching decks, a beauty salon, physiotherapy room, reception and office areas, and a range of purpose-designed back-of-house facilities such as an industrial kitchen and laundry.

Inspired by its woodland context, Langtree Care Home embraces the surrounding landscape with generous glazing, outdoor terraces, and bi-folding doors in ground floor rooms. The building’s homely aesthetic—characterised by brickwork, pitched roofs with dormers, and a non-clinical interior palette—reflects its place in the existing care village and the local vernacular. Careful selection of calming, hygienic materials supports a high standard of cleanliness while creating a therapeutic sensory environment. Internally, level, clutter-free layouts minimise the risk of falls and reduce resident anxiety through intuitive design.

“Langtree Care Home is more than just a building—it’s a new model for elderly care that puts wellbeing, adaptability, and family connection at its core,” said Alex Caruso, Co-Director of ACA. “We’ve worked closely with Millennium Care Group and frontline clinicians to ensure this facility truly responds to the emotional and physical needs of its residents. Every detail has been carefully considered to provide a homely, safe, and uplifting environment—now and for the future.”

This new facility not only enhances the Millennium Care campus but also sets a national precedent for pandemic-resilient, dementia-friendly care homes. It is a testament to what can be achieved when architectural innovation is aligned with compassionate care.