The Wigan Council has given the green light to an innovative nursery project that will serve as a bridge between generations in Standish, Lancashire. Designed by Delve Architects, the octagonal two-story building will be strategically located among three elderly care homes on Chorley Road, near Worthington Lakes, creating what developers call the first-of-its-kind intergenerational and forest nursery facility.
The project, officially named "The Nest," represents a groundbreaking approach to community care design. The building will feature a distinctive glulam-framed structure and will be clad in green-stained Tricoya panels, reflecting its forest nursery concept. The innovative internal layout is divided into flexible segments that can be opened up or closed down depending on functional requirements, allowing for seamless integration of activities involving both elderly residents and young children throughout the week.
At the heart of the design is a triple-height central atrium that serves both aesthetic and practical purposes. According to the London-based architectural practice, this central feature will play a crucial role in the building's passive cooling strategy, demonstrating the project's commitment to sustainable design principles. The flexible space design will enable operators to adapt the facility for various intergenerational programming needs.
Millennium Care, the organization that will operate the nursery, views this project as a cornerstone of their non-pharmacological approach to elderly care. The company believes that consistent intergenerational activities can significantly improve the quality of life for elderly residents. Omair Hader, Millennium Care's managing director, expressed the organization's vision: "Our ambition is to ensure that the spark that comes from mixing the young and older alike becomes part of the natural rhythm and daily life at [the care village]."
The project has been developed in collaboration with Intergenerational England, a charity dedicated to bringing together public, voluntary, and private sectors in the fight against ageism and age segregation. Emily Abbott, co-founder of Intergenerational England, emphasized the project's broader significance: "The Nest is a clear and powerful example of this thinking in practice. Its proximity to the adjoining care homes offers a rare and invaluable opportunity for structured, meaningful intergenerational connection."
According to Abbott, the benefits of such intergenerational facilities extend far beyond the immediate participants. "The benefits are far-reaching for older residents, care staff, children, parents, and the wider community," she explained. "We know from both research and practice that this kind of environment supports mental and emotional wellbeing, reduces loneliness, fosters empathy and understanding, and creates a more connected, resilient community for the future."
Alex Raher, director at Delve Architects, positioned the project as a potential model for future developments, stating that the scheme would serve as "a benchmark for showcasing the importance of designing for intergenerational use." This sentiment reflects a growing movement in architectural design that prioritizes community connection and social interaction across age groups.
The comprehensive project team includes several specialist consultants: Barnes Walker serves as landscape architect, Knightsbridge Planning as planning consultant, SCP as transport consultant, Walker Abbott for mechanical and electrical services, and BB7 as fire engineer. The project is privately funded and carries the planning reference A/25/098965/MAJOR.
Construction is scheduled to begin next summer, with completion expected by the end of 2026. Abbott believes the scheme has the potential to become a national exemplar, creating "a place where generations come together not by chance, but by design." This timeline positions The Nest to potentially influence similar intergenerational care projects across the United Kingdom and beyond.
