On Wednesday, 28 September, the official ceremonial moment took place for the new St. Willibrord Residential Care Villa on Stationsstraat in Ruurlo. This marks a beautiful (re)development of the former Willibrordus primary school into 22 high-quality care apartments with shared communal areas. Initial reactions have been very positive. The complex, which is expected to be completed in March 2023, is widely regarded as a valuable addition to Ruurlo.
Those present at the festive occasion included representatives of contractor Plegt Bouw, care operator Saamborgh, and the Municipality of Berkelland. Several advisors and nearby residents were also among the invited guests. The first reactions were enthusiastic: “A tremendous asset for the village, and wonderful that the original entrance has been preserved,” was a frequently heard remark. In the presence of the guests, Alderman Van Gijssel performed the symbolic laying of the first stone in the new façade.
The residential care villa owes its name to the Willibrordus School, which was located on this site for more than 85 years. Developer Maikel Withaar of Gaudium Real Estate commented:
“The character of the old school is still clearly reflected in the new complex. A distinctive feature is the entrance hall, which has been fully preserved in its original state and remains an important landmark for the people of Ruurlo.”
The complex will comprise 22 high-quality care apartments with various communal spaces and will be operated by Saamborgh. The villa is fully future-proof: it will be developed entirely gas-free in accordance with the sustainable BENG standard and equipped with photovoltaic panels and a collective air-source heat pump. The apartments vary in size, ensuring there is something for everyone. The first residents are expected to move into their residential care apartments from mid-2023.
