Posted on 7th Jul
Residents at HC-One’s Kings Court Care Home embarked on an exciting adventure after exploring the nearby Middlebeck development site with a Land Rover experience organised by Urban & Civic.
The event offered a rare opportunity for residents to witness the transformation of their local area in Newark and learn about the vision for the growing community.
Urban & Civic, the company overseeing the Middlebeck development, welcomed residents Wally South (Wally), Eddie Furlong-Taylor and Brian Patton, who were accompanied by Catherine Skorin, front of house manager, and Matt Wheatcroft, a carer from Kings Court.
The group set off in two Jeeps from the Hawton entrance of the building site, where new homes are under construction by builders such as Miller Homes and Bellway. The hour-long tour took residents along the newly-constructed Southern Link Road, connecting the A1 to the A46.
The residents explored both the completed stretch, not yet open to the public, and the ongoing construction linking Hawton to the A46.
Simon Murphy, community development lead at Urban & Civic, guided the tour with Nathan Reid, one of the project managers.
They shared insights into the £100m road project, innovative drainage systems designed for the flood-prone area, and the broader vision for Middlebeck, which emphasises community engagement, green spaces, and essential amenities.
Simon said: “It was lovely to see our guests so engaged and interested, and they asked some searching questions! This kind of activity underpins the importance we place here at Middlebeck of building good relationships with our neighbours and being a positive force in the community.
“We hope to continue to work in partnership with the Kings Court team in the future.”
Wally, a 15-year Newark resident who is originally from Coventry, added: “It was an enjoyable trip out. I marvelled at the amount of roadworks that have been produced.
“It’s brilliant that the home was able to organise this trip. We often go out around the local area to the lake, which is great.”
Brian, originally from Bathley and a former volunteer at Newark Air Museum, said: “It’s amazing for me to explore this area of Newark. The sophistication they’re achieving for the site and the population is remarkable. The new roads will help ease traffic during busy periods.
“Kings Court has given me the opportunity to continue to do things like this, which gives me a boost of energy.”
Eddie added: “I recognised where I was and the driver did a brilliant job to explain everything along the way. It was an enjoyable trip.”
