Benefactor’s plan for £70m retirement village in memory of wife who battled disease

Jul 3 2008 by Ben Schofield, Liverpool Daily Post

Businessman Les Connor on the proposed site of his Retirement Village in Aughton nr Ormskirk.

A PHILANTHROPIST is spearheading plans to build a £70m retirement village in memory of his wife.

The 300-unit development will provide long-term care for residents that designers say is not available elsewhere.

Leslie Connor says the set-up is modelled on a village built and run by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, near York. It would be the second of its kind in the country.

Retired financier Mr Con-nor, 76, set up a charitable trust when his wife, Jean, died in 2005 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

He said: “I found out all the crises and problems that come from looking after somebody and how difficult it was. You are pretty well left on your own.”

He has donated 76 acres of family farmland in Aughton, West Lancashire, to the Jean and Leslie Connor Charit-able Foundation with a view to building on it.

Mr Connor and his London-based daughter, Dr Hilary Connor, are trustees of the foundation. Their development will be a joint venture with property firm Arena Housing.

Known as Trinity Fields, the 240-one and two-bedroom cottages and 60 apartments will occupy 38 acres.

Around 400 residents, aged 55 and above, will be able to move in and spend the rest of their lives being looked after within the community. Mr Connor described the houses as “homes for life”.