The Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) is proud to mark a significant construction milestone with a topping out ceremony for its newest care home development in Melksham, held on 1 July 2026. The event celebrated the completion of the building’s structural frame and brought together key stakeholders involved in delivering the new home.

Once complete, the new care home, scheduled to open in spring 2027, will offer 80 beautifully designed en-suite bedrooms, offering high-quality residential, dementia and nursing care. The home is designed to create a comfortable, safe and welcoming environment that supports residents to live fulfilling lives, with modern amenities and thoughtfully designed living spaces. Facilities include private dining areas for family celebrations, a cinema room, gym, activities room, Sonos sound system throughout, hair salon and wellness spa – all designed to create a vibrant and engaging environment.

The home will also feature a dedicated family suite, providing comfortable overnight accommodation for relatives who need to stay close without the added stress of travel and hotel arrangements. In addition, innovative circadian lighting* and acoustic monitoring** will support residents’ safety and wellbeing, complementing OSJCT’s commitment to person-centred care.

Sustainability has been a key consideration throughout the design process, with the home being developed to meet high environmental standards. The building will operate entirely on electricity, incorporating energy-efficient heating and hot water systems to meet net zero sustainability standards and achieve a high Energy Performance Certificate (EPCA) and a strong building assessment score (BREEAM). Renewable energy will be generated on site through solar panels, while electric vehicle charging points will support greener transport options. 

Residents will benefit from thoughtfully designed surroundings, including fully en-suite wet rooms and accessible landscaped gardens making up at least 20% of the site to support wellbeing. The development will also prioritise nature, with plans to enhance biodiversity and use low-toxicity, environmentally responsible materials throughout.

Dan Hayes, CEO of OSJCT, said:

“Reaching the topping out stage is a major milestone for this development and a testament to the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved. This new home will enable us to support more people in the local community with high-quality, compassionate care, tailored to individual needs. We are excited to see the project progressing so well and look forward to welcoming our first residents in 2027.”

When completed, the care home will be part of OSJCT’s portfolio of high-quality care services, combining modern design with expert care delivery. The home will support individuals with a range of needs, including residential, dementia and nursing care, ensuring a holistic and person-centred approach.

Further construction work will now continue internally, with a focus on completing interiors, landscaping and final fittings ahead of the planned opening.