The Sanday Development Trust has issued an open invitation to tender for the design of Care for Sanday — a transformative development that aims to provide 12 adaptable homes and a community health hub on the island.

Located at Lady Village, a four-acre Trust-owned site already used by carers and healthcare professionals, the project is rooted in the principles of accessibility, sustainability, and island resilience. The development will include covered walkways, communal gardens, and energy-efficient homes designed to meet the evolving needs of residents as they age or encounter health challenges.

The Care for Sanday project originated in 2015, inspired by the lived experience of a Women’s Guild member who became a resident at Kallisgarth in Westray. Since then, the initiative has grown into a comprehensive plan to support residents in remaining on Sanday throughout their lives, avoiding the need to relocate to access care.

Operations manager Kieron Brogan said: “Too often, islanders have had to leave Sanday to access care as they grow older or face health challenges. This project changes that — it’s about dignity, independence, and belonging, all rooted in the values of a supportive island community.”

The project sets out to achieve several long-term objectives:

• Enable residents to remain on Sanday for life, regardless of health or mobility changes.
• Free up existing housing stock for new families, boosting local regeneration.
• Establish a central health hub offering a range of services and facilities for the whole community.
• Create new employment opportunities and support local care workers.
• Strengthen the island’s economy and build a more sustainable future.

The 12 planned homes, offering a mix of two and three-bedroom layouts, will be designed for adaptability, ensuring they remain suitable as residents’ needs evolve. The community health hub will act as the heart of the project, providing treatment rooms for visiting professionals, communal spaces for social interaction and day care, and dedicated areas for convalescence and end-of-life care.

The Sanday Development Trust is inviting submissions from qualified architectural firms with experience in community-based design, sustainable housing, and integrated healthcare facilities. Proposals must be submitted by 30 May 2025.

Interested parties can request the Invitation to Tender (ITT) document by contacting:

Kieron Brogan
Sanday Development Trust
Sanday, KW17 2BN
Email: cdo@sandaydt.org.