The octagonal two-storey building is billed as a ‘first of its kind’ intergenerational and forest nursery, which will ‘blend generations’ on the site in Chorley Road close to the Worthington Lakes.
The scheme, dubbed The Nest, will be built with a glulam-framed structure and will be clad in green stained triccoya panels.
The internal layout is divided into segments, all of which can be opened up or closed down ‘depending on the required function’, allowing sessions involving both the elderly community and the early years to be run throughout the week.
The building will have a triple-height central atrium, which the London-based practice says will support the building’s passive cooling strategy.
The nursery will be operated by Millennium Care, which says it hopes the scheme ‘will provide a consistent stream of intergenerational activities’, this being one of its ‘main non-pharmacological approaches to elderly care’.
It has been developed with charity Intergenerational England, which aims to bring together the public, voluntary, and private sectors ‘in the fight against ageism and age segregation’.
Delve Architects director Alex Raher said the scheme would be a ‘benchmark for showcasing the importance of designing for Intergenerational use’.
Millennium Care managing director Omair Hader said: ‘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].’
Work is expected to start on site next summer.
Site map
Project data
Location Standish, Lancashire
Local authority Wigan Council
Type of project Intergenerational and forest nursery
Client Millennium Care and Intergenerational England
Architect Delve Architects
Landscape architect Barnes Walker
Planning consultant Knightsbridge Planning
Transport SCP
M&E services Walker Abbott
Fire engineer BB7
Funding Private
Tender date To be confirmed
Start on site Summer 2026
Completion 2026
Planning reference A/25/098965/MAJOR – Millennium Care
Segment – atrium
Comment
Emily Abbott, co-founder, Intergenerational England
I work nationally with local and central government, as well as across housing, health, education, and care sectors. We are advocating for serious intergenerational thinking to be embedded in how we approach health, social care, planning, and community design. 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. The benefits are far-reaching for older residents, care staff, children, parents, and the wider community.
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.
The scheme has the potential to become a national exemplar and a place where generations come together not by chance, but by design.
Ground Floor Plan