Morgan Sindall celebrates topping out at Hexham Road care and residential scheme
Morgan Sindall Construction’s Thames Valley business has marked a major milestone in the development of the £21.9 million Hexham Road residential and adult care facility, celebrating the project’s topping out with a ceremony on 6 November.
To commemorate the project’s progress, members of the Morgan Sindall team and Reading Borough Council joined together on site to reflect on progress.
On track for completion in summer 2026, the new facility will provide vital accommodation and support for the local community with 42 high-quality one-bedroom homes for residents aged over 55 and a specialist day opportunities centre for individuals with complex learning difficulties. The development also includes improved car parking and thoughtfully designed landscaping to create a safe, welcoming environment.
The facility is being built on the former site of The Willows, a 26-bed residential care home that closed in 2020 and was cleared last year. Drawing on inspiration from the character of the surrounding neighbourhood and former site, the building design incorporates local brick patterns, scalloped tiling, and recessed bays.
In line with Morgan Sindall’s commitment to sustainability, the team has already achieved carbon savings of 45 tonnes during construction – the equivalent of heating 17 homes for a year. PV panels will also be installed on the finished building to further reduce emissions.
Throughout works, Morgan Sindall has focused on creating social value for the community. The team has supported local initiatives, including donating 20 pumpkins to Hexham Community Centre for a family carving event, providing monthly contributions to The Whitley Wood Pantry food bank, and ‘renting’ nearby residents’ driveways for parking – offering neighbours additional income while securing convenient parking for the project team.
To help develop future talent in the construction industry, the tier one contractor has welcomed 10 apprentices for 52 weeks of hands-on experience on a live construction site. Morgan Sindall also held a Teachers Encounter Day in partnership with Berkshire LEP, giving educators firsthand insight into construction career pathways relevant to their subjects and helping them connect classroom teaching with real-world construction applications.
The project has also benefited from the reuse of existing site infrastructure as Morgan Sindall retained the original hoarding and vehicle gate following demolition, enabling an efficient transition into construction.