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Public Consultation on Richmond Villages' updated proposals for Battersea Park

View our proposals
Illustration of the proposed Care Village

Our vision for a new, thriving Integrated Retirement Community at Battersea Park 

Richmond Villages (part of Bupa) is pleased to share updated proposals for their purpose built Retirement Village in Battersea, Wandsworth.

This is the second round of consultation, following engagement in May 2025. After reviewing your feedback, we have further developed our vision to create a best-in-class care environment that responds to modern expectations and provides high-quality sustainable accommodation for older people.
The new Retirement Village will replace outdated facilities with thoughtfully designed spaces that prioritise wellbeing, community, and long-term sustainability.
We remain committed to providing a care facility on this site, supporting local health needs while enhancing this prominent riverside location.
View an overview of our first round of consultation here
View an overview of our first round consultation here

Responding to changing demand

Delivering the care Wandsworth needs
The demand for care home beds in Wandsworth is projected to increase significantly in the coming years. The increasing elderly population and growing need for specialist dementia care further emphasises the importance of high-quality care facilities.
The proposed retirement village will provide high-quality, purpose-built homes for older people, helping to address both local and regional shortfalls in care provision.
This is a long-term solution that responds directly to the growing demand for specialist housing, supporting the health and wellbeing of Wandsworth’s ageing population. It also helps reduce pressure on local health and social care services by providing the right kind of housing in the right place.

*Information taken from the Data and Demographic Analysis

*Please note that the figures presented are provisional and will be updated once the accurate information becomes available

The UK's 65+ population is set to rise from 11.2m to 17.2m by 2040, making up 1 in 4 people in many areas.
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The UK needs up to 50,000 new homes for older people every year.
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By 2029, up to 219 care beds could be needed in Wandsworth.*
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Across South West London, a shortfall of over 700 care beds is expected by 2029. *
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In the Wandsworth local authority area, the 2024 shortfall of care home beds with wetrooms was 219 beds, projected to grow to 345 by 2034.
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We are keen to engage with the local community and want to hear your feedback ahead of submitting a planning application to Wandsworth Council.

Read on to find out how you can get involved in our second public consultation.
Have your say
The existing building
aerial view of the existing site
existing site

Meadbank Care Home is located at 12 Parkgate Road in Battersea. The building, originally constructed in the 1960s, has been extended and adapted over the years. While it has served many residents and families well in this time, its layout and condition now fall short of modern standards.

The design of the current site no longer meets the needs of residents or staff in terms of comfort, accessibility, wellbeing and energy efficiency. Internal spaces are difficult to navigate and lack the sense of connection that is important in a care setting.
We have received various feedback that highlights the limitations of the existing environment, which prompted a thoughtful review of how best to take this site forward into the future.
Richmond Villages are committed to providing a care facility on this site, and to ensuring that the proposals meet the needs of future generations. We believe there is an opportunity to create a new, purpose-built Retirement Village that reflects current best practice and continues to be a place where residents, families, and staff feel supported and welcome.
View location

Our Proposals

The scheme will deliver a brand-new care village offering around 150 high-quality care beds to support older people to age in place.

The building will be fully electric, energy-efficient, and designed with green roofs and planting to improve local biodiversity.

Up to 160 new jobs will be created at the care village, alongside extra construction roles and apprenticeships for local people.

A poor-quality existing building will be replaced with attractive, modern architecture that better fits the surrounding neighbourhood.

Residents will have access to on-site health services, including physiotherapy, a gym, and spaces for wellness and treatment.

New green spaces and landscaping will improve the area for both residents and the wider public to enjoy.

The development will support walking and cycling, with limited parking and electric vehicle charging points provided on-site.

Local businesses and suppliers will benefit from the scheme’s focus on local procurement and its contribution to community infrastructure funding.

High-Quality, Specialist Care

We are proposing a retirement village that offers an outstanding standard of care, aligned with CQC requirements and sector-leading best practice. The development will deliver up to 150 replacement care beds and suites across secure and semi-secure units, including dedicated spaces for residential, nursing, dementia, and respite care. Drawing on Bupa and Richmond Villages’ extensive experience, including lessons from other villages such as Cheltenham, the scheme enables a continuum of care, minimising the need for residents to relocate as their needs evolve. New layouts allow for smaller, community-focused units within the building, supporting a more personal care experience.

Enhance Residential Amenity

Following feedback about the importance of high-quality shared environments, we are introducing a range of thoughtfully designed spaces that support wellbeing. The proposals include sensory gardens, communal lounges, therapy rooms, arts and craft areas, and rooftop terraces, with planting and outdoor amenities designed to foster social connection and a sense of belonging. These spaces have been shaped by care environment design principles and will exceed national standards for communal areas. A key design goal is to create a ‘home-like’ environment that promotes privacy and independence.
Illustration of proposed level 4 terrace

Sustainability at the Core

Sustainability was a key theme in the feedback, and our revised proposals now include industry-leading commitments. The new building is designed to be highly sustainable, using low-carbon materials and energy-efficient systems and solar panels. It will be built using off-site prefabrication to reduce waste and disruption. The design follows circular economy principles, meaning materials are chosen for durability, adaptability, and ease of reuse at the end of their life. High levels of insulation and natural ventilation will also help reduce energy use. The proposals also include green roofs to help boost nature and biodiversity across the site.
CGI of the proposed care village from Parkgate Road

Future-Proof and Flexible Design

Residents and stakeholders highlighted the need for long-term flexibility. The building will feature construction methods and layouts required for multifunctional spaces that can evolve to meet future regulatory and healthcare demands. Care suites can be converted into larger units if needed, and the structure has been designed with potential future uses – such as retirement residences or even hotel-style accommodation – in mind. These measures will ensure the building remains viable and functional for decades to come.
Illustration of the proposed central courtyard

Community Connections and Shared Spaces

We’ve responded to strong feedback about making the village open and inclusive. Proposed public-facing facilities now include a café/restaurant, hobby and activity rooms, landscaped gardens, a central courtyard and wellness areas that can host events and community groups. The ground floor will be animated and welcoming, supporting interaction between residents, staff, and the local community. These additions will help tackle loneliness and provide valuable new community resources, consistent with the local community’s preferences for intergenerational activity.

Respecting Local Character

We heard clearly the need for the building to reflect the area’s distinct character and riverside setting. The design now uses a carefully chosen material palette with gradient brick tones that reduce visual bulk at higher levels. The design also steps back as it gets taller, helping it feel more open and less overpowering for people walking along Parkgate and Battersea Bridge Roads. The public realm will be significantly improved and there will be active ground floor uses that enhance the street scene and create a more attractive gateway to the site.
exhibition boards
TEAM

Project Owner and Care Provider

Bupa is a leading international healthcare group with a purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. In the UK, Bupa operates around 115 care homes and 10 retirement villages, offering more than 7,000 beds and employing over 10,000 staff. Through its Richmond Villages brand, Bupa has decades of experience delivering innovative, high-quality retirement accomodation tailored to the evolving needs of older people, from residential and dementia care to nursing and end-of-life support.
Meadbank Care Home has been identified for redevelopment to ensure it continues to meet the highest standards of care, wellbeing, and sustainability for the next generation of residents. In line with Bupa’s commitment to reinvesting its profits into its people, facilities, and services, this project reflects a proactive approach to enhancing care environments.
To deliver this vision, Bupa and Richmond Villages have assembled a specialist team of architects, planners, engineers and community engagement experts with experience in delivering complex and compassionate care-led developments.
Heritage and Townscape Consultancy
Structural and Civil Engineering Experts
Community and Political Engagement  
Planning and Development Consultancy
Engineering Consultancy
pozzoni
Specialist in later-living and care home design

Have your say

We want to hear your feedback on our updated proposals proposals

Come along to our drop-in public exhibitions or complete the online survey to share your feedback.  

Public
Exhibition

  • Wednesday 9th July 2025
  • 4:30pm - 8pm
  • Ethelburga Community Centre, 60 Worfield St, London SW11 4RA
View Location

Public
Exhibition 2

  • Thursday 10th July 2025
  • 4:30pm - 8pm
  • Ethelburga Community Centre, 60 Worfield St, London SW11 4RA
View Location

Online
Survey

  • Available until Monday 28th July 2025
Access

Thank you for participating in our public consultations on Richmond Villages' proposals to transform Meadbank Care Home into a new, thriving Integrated Retirement Community at Battersea Park.

We have now submitted a planning application to Wandsworth Council that has been validated.

You can view our plans in full on Wandsworth’s Planning Portal here. If you’re supportive of the plans, please leave a comment.

(Reference: 2025/3651)