€43 million retirement village announced

Entrepreneur Angelo Xuereb today announced his latest construction venture which revolved around a €43 million development of a retirement village in Naxxar.

The Hilltop Gardens will offer 150 deluxe apartments and penthouses among other facilities in 17,000 sqm, with 60% of the project remaining open spaces and landscaping.

Chief Executive Jacqueline Camilleri remarked that the project intended to offer a lifestyle alternative for the elderly who would rather live in their own property while benefitting from a vast range of hotel-type services.

To this end, the retirement village will include a fitness centre, a library, a chapel, a restaurant bar and bistro, a mini market, a hairdressing saloon, crafts centre, wellness spa and recreational areas for children. Camilleri added that garden lovers can apply for garden allotments, while the village will also have a total of three pools: indoor, outdoor and therapy pool.

A clinical centre will also be set up which will offer ophthalmology and dental services, diabetic clinics, podiatry, physiotherapy and occupational health services as well.

“The development moves away from the standard model of institutional elderly care. Hilltop Gardens has been designed with the sole intent of offering elderly residents the best of retirement living,” Angelo Xuereb said.

The project will also have 200 beds for residential care, which will be hosted in a separate building.

The Minister for Social Solidarity Michael Farrugia described the development as “music to his ears.”

“Months ago, when I was still responsible for MEPA we emphasised the need to have more green buildings and housing, preferably on committed land. This project ticks all the boxes,” Farrugia said.

Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing Justyne Caruana underlined that such project was in sync with the government’s strategy to offer quality elderly care.

The construction phase is expected to be finalised by the end of the year, with the retirement village set to become operational by September 2015.