Jewish Care has received planning permission to develop a brand-new “state-of-the-art” campus in Redbridge to serve its east London and Essex communities.

As well as a "first-rate", purpose-built 66-bed care home and community centre space, the site will act as Jewish Care’s campus in Redbridge, housing their social work team and meals-on-wheels hub. It will also feature a modern and fully accessible community space that will house a centre for people living with dementia.

The facility, which is expected to begin construction in January 2024 for a mid-2026 finish, will replace Jewish Care’s Vi & John Rubens House care home in Grants Hill.

Jonathan West, Jewish Care’s Director of Legal Affairs, Property and Procurement said: "Even at this difficult time, when our thoughts are with Israel and all those affected, it feels right to share this news.

"The new campus will complete Jewish Care’s strategic vision whereby multiple campuses across London and the southeast support our community.”

He added, “With so many Jewish families using our services in the area, we will be able to give this long-established community a first-class care and community campus designed to meet their needs, now and into the future. We will also continue our commitment to ensuring that the development is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible.”

Jewish Care has now launched a campaign to raise the remaining £5 million from the local community, which is needed to finish the project. A construction company is currently surveying the site and preparing it for a safe and secure demolition.

Jewish Care thanked the “incredible commitments” from Lord Sugar and his family for showing “unwavering commitment to the organisation over many decades”, and the Ronson family via The Gerald and Gail Ronson Family Foundation, who they referred to as “avid and incredibly generous supporters”.

Lord Sugar said his family was “proud” to be supporting the new campus. He said: “Our family has had a long and deep association with Jewish Care’s services in Redbridge, where my late mother was a resident at Vi & John Rubens House. We are absolutely delighted to be helping our older community live with dignity and compassion in facilities that deliver high quality care on a state-of-the-art campus.

“We hope our commitment will be a catalyst for Jewish Care’s other local supporters to join us and the Ronson family in making this project a reality, which the Essex and East London community truly deserves and can rightfully feel proud of.”

New Campus 2

Generated images of the new Redbridge campus (Credit: Jewish Care)

Dame Gail Ronson DBE, who has been involved with Jewish Care for over thirty years as a Trustee and now as an Honorary President, said: “Our connection with the Redbridge community goes back many decades now from when I first became involved in the organisation in 1983 where the Sinclair House site was then an independent community centre that was on the brink of closure. Gerald and I wanted to do all we could to help save it and hosted a fundraising event, which we were delighted stopped it from closing, and have had the privilege of seeing it thrive. We are delighted to play our role in establishing a new facility for the next generation in a community which we know is so very special.”

Alongside these commitments and funds already raised by the Redbridge Aid Golf Society, Jewish Care also said they were “hugely supported” by Hamberley Developments Limited and Patron Capital as their development coordinator.

New campus

Generated exterior images of the new Redbridge Jewish Care campus, which is expected to be completed mid-2026 (Credit: Jewish Care)

Jewish Care also expressed their thanks and gratitude to the local community for showing their support during the planning application process.

The charity, which runs many centres and services, is the largest health and social care organisation serving the Jewish community in London and the southeast.

Further updates about the project will be shared with the community in the coming months.