Manchester district to pioneer strategies for people to age well

It is futuristic planning that enables people to live in an area designed for them to grow old in, and now, with up to £1.5bn of funding available, the concept of age-friendly living is starting to be adopted in the UK.

- Chris Osuh

The funding is for a radical project to transform a hospital into the first neighbourhood in the country designed to grow old in, and will be a national test-bed for holistic health and social care approaches. It will include hi-tech homes that adapt to occupants' life stage and care needs, transport, a village green, and a social calendar to combat isolation.

The planned North Manchester general hospital (NMGH) redevelopment has involved public health officials, local politicians, experts and architects collaborating on the masterplan for Manchester's Crumpsall district.

Michelle Humphreys, director of strategic projects for Manchester University NHS foundation trust (MFT) described it as a neighbourhood that "adapts around people as they go through life", powered by advances in medical wearables and remote monitoring.