Puma Property Finance has provided £17.5m in development finance to Connaught Care for a 95-bed care home in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. The facility marks the second Connaught project backed by the lender.
The four-storey building on a former brownfield railway site will feature 95 private bedrooms with en-suite wetrooms. Facilities include a hair salon, cinema, restaurant and 39-space car park. The development targets an EPC A rating with rooftop photovoltaic panels and assessment against EDGE environmental standards. Practical completion is scheduled for December 2027.
Local demographics support demand
The site is located near Stratford-upon-Avon town centre, railway and bus stations, and Stratford Hospital. Carterwood data indicates approximately 51,000 people live within a five-mile radius, with 4.6% aged 85 or over, compared to a national average of 2.7%. The analysis identifies a current shortfall of 131 en-suite wetroom beds in the catchment area.
“Stratford-upon-Avon is an attractive and well-connected location, with clear demand for high-quality, purpose-built care accommodation,” said Andrew Winstanley, chief executive of Connaught Care. “We are pleased to be working with Puma again, following their support for Henbrook House in St Neots.”
Developer track record
Puma previously financed Henbrook House, a 66-bed care home in St Neots, Cambridgeshire, which opened in April 2024. Connaught has delivered 15 care homes in total and currently operates six new-build facilities, with two additional sites scheduled to open in 2027.
The care home sector continues to attract development finance as demographic trends increase demand for specialist accommodation. Tony Throp, director and head of healthcare at Puma Property Finance, stated: “The team has a strong track record in the sector, both as developers and operators, and the successful delivery of Henbrook House provides a clear precedent for this latest scheme.”
The transaction reflects ongoing lender appetite for healthcare real estate in undersupplied markets, as operators seek to address shortfalls in purpose-built care accommodation. Similar funding trends have been observed across the UK property sector as developers target demographic-driven demand.
