Avery Park Topping-out Ceremony in Kettering

On Tuesday 14th January, Natta joined Avery Healthcare to celebrate the superstructure completion, a key milestone for the new Avery Park Care Community. The achievement was marked by a traditional topping-out ceremony supported by Avery’s Ambassador, TV and stage actress, Sherrie Hewson, along with the Mayor of Kettering, Keli Watts.

From left to right: (Back) Rob Winspear, Alberto Gomez, Steve Goodman, Andrew Skinner and Andy Fowler and Rex Pudol. (Front) Matilde De La Plaza, Jo Whelan, Sherrie Hewson, Keli Watts and Avery’s Commercial Director, Mark Danis.

Located in the town of Kettering, the 6593m³ new Avery Park will welcome its first residents in Autumn 2020. It will provide 42-bedroom Dementia Care Home and a 77-bedroom Nursing Home. The home will also include the conversion of the existing Victorian Villa to provide 8 Assisted Living Apartments. While also promoting independence, the design will allow senior residents to live active and fulfilled lives.

Natta is the Main Contractor for this prestigious new 119 bed Care Community. Our scope comprises the entire design and build and the fit-out works. Our works include all demolition, bulk excavation, associated groundworks and substructure foundations.

Topping Out Ceremony

The aim of a Topping out Ceremony is traditionally to commemorate the construction of the highest point of a building. The history of the ceremony can be traced back a thousand years to Scandinavia. Back then a tree was placed on top of a building to placate the tree-dwelling spirits. These days with the multitude of materials used in the construction of modern buildings and building regulations, not to mention planning constraints, the placing of the tree has passed.

Our ceremony last week was to celebrate the completion of the superstructure at Avery Park.

From left: Keli Watts and Sherrie Hewson

Director of Developments, Adrian Doyle said, “Avery Healthcare were delighted that main contractor Natta arranged a ‘topping out’ ceremony at our new development of Avery Park in Kettering to celebrate the completion of the superstructure of this prestigious landmark development in Kettering. This project is the third Natta have undertaken for Avery and we look forward to developing further elderly care communities with Natta and the completion of Avery Park later this year.”

Andy Fowler, Operations Director commented: “We were delighted to commemorate this significant stage in the build process today. It was a pleasure to celebrate the occasion with Avery Healthcare, their Ambassador Sherrie Hewson and Mayor of Kettering Keli Watts. We look forward to completing the first fix for the whole building in the next few weeks and being fully watertight by the end of February. We are on programme, with Practical Completion in August, to deliver this stunning care home to Avery and the community of Kettering. Thanks to Avery for awarding us this development and look forward to continuing our successful partnership for many years to come.”

Team Natta at Kettering with Sherrie Hewson and Keli Watts

Natta has a history of working on numerous fast track groundworks packages. These form a large element of a modern Care Home or Retirement Village. Our ability to offer a complete package of works from pre-planning design development through to the completion of all site works makes us the perfect partner. This knowledge together with our main contracting experience allows us to act as either a package groundworks contractor or main contractor for the full design and build.

Last year, Natta also celebrated success with the Avery, as its biggest build project to date, won at the 2019 Pinders Healthcare Design Awards. The Hawthorns Retirement Living won the highly coveted ‘Best Independent Living Scheme’ at the awards. We also saw another of our full design and builds, Astbury Manor, shortlisted as a finalist in the ‘Best New Care Home (Higher Development Budget)’ category.

About Avery

Avery Healthcare provides residential, dementia, nursing and respite care through 54 care homes nationwide and operates four independent retirement communities. They are also in the independent living retirement sector, with 4 high-end properties already in operation and more planned. As an award-winning and leading provider in the adult social care sector, it innovates and differentiates through its quality of care, proactive focus on resident well-being and hotel standard services.

Photos courtesy of Ian Topham