Leading funds management firm, Stirling Property Funds ('Stirling'), has achieved another milestone on its Tillys Play & Development centre located within the the Junction Fair Shopping Centre in Newcastle – completing the 'topping out' of the purpose-built facility.
Tillys The Junction ('Tillys'), will provide a 109-place, state of the art childcare facility for children 0-6 years of age, with the functional design over three levels allowing for each level to cater for dedicated ages with outdoor play areas.
Stirling's Head of Property, Scott Girard, said 'the completion of Tillys will mark the end of a four year journey which Stirling undertook with a focus of delivering much needed childcare accommodation to The Junction and surrounding residential areas'.
"We're excited that we've achieved another milestone during construction and continue to advance works on Tillys," Mr. Girard said.
"Tillys will deliver a key piece of social infrastructure for the community. As is the case in many inner city areas, the supply of childcare accommodation is not keeping pace with demand, resulting in both a shortfall of places and rising costs. That's why we're proud that the completion of Tillys will assist in addressing the 146 place shortfall in childcare places within The Junction and surrounding areas."
Tillys, a privately-owned family company, will operate the childcare facility on a long term basis, bringing 28 years' of experience in the operation of childcare facilities within the Newcastle area, to The Junction. The new facility will also create 27 skilled jobs within the local community.
Tillys CEO Donna MacIntyre said that there had been strong interest in the new childcare centre, with 158 families registering their interest to enrol when the Centre opens.
"We are on track to be close to fully occupied when we open our doors, with a growing waiting list," she said.
"Tillys has been providing care and education to children for over 30 years and we're looking forward to providing local children and their families with the highest quality early childhood education and care. We have an amazing team of early childhood educators ready for onboarding and we're super excited to meet our new families."
Construction has been underway since January 2024 and Tillys is now set to open early next year.
