Key Points
- Acquisition Details: Yorkshire-based health and social care provider The HICA Group has officially acquired two neighbouring care homes, St Armands Court and The Hollies, located in Garforth, Leeds.
- Property Profiles: St Armands Court comprises 40 rooms for long-term and short-term residential care, while The Hollies provides specialist residential dementia care for up to 28 residents.
- Staffing and Operations: Existing staff at both care facilities will remain in their current roles, and both homes will maintain their individual characters while gaining access to group-wide operational support and training.
- Executive Statements: Terry Peel, Chief Executive of The HICA Group, highlighted that the primary focus is delivering a smooth transition for residents, families, and staff.
- Transaction Advisory: The transaction was facilitated with legal advice from Marcus Armstrong and the team at Brabners solicitors, alongside property consultancy from Ian Wilkie of Healthcare Property Consultants Limited, with cooperation from former owner Harvey Zemmel.
Garforth (The Leeds Times) November 6, 2026 — Yorkshire-based health and social care provider The HICA Group has expanded its West Yorkshire operations through the acquisition of two neighbouring care facilities, St Armands Court and The Hollies, situated on Church Lane in Garforth, Leeds.As reported in sector trade press, the acquisition strengthens the regional footprint of the care provider, incorporating a total of 68 residential care beds into its portfolio. St Armands Court offers 40 accommodation rooms delivering both permanent and respite residential care for older adults. Situated adjacent to the property, The Hollies operates as a specialist residential unit providing dedicated care for up to 28 individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related conditions.
Under the terms of the transaction, both care homes will preserve their respective operational identities while integrating into the broader organizational structure of The HICA Group.
This integration enables both locations to utilize group-level staff development programs, training resources, and centralized operational guidance. The organisation confirmed that all existing care and support personnel will be retained in their current employment roles to ensure continuity of care for service users.
As reported in industry statements, Terry Peel, Chief Executive of The HICA Group, stated that:
“We’re pleased to welcome St Armands Court and The Hollies to The HICA Group. Both homes have established teams who know their residents well, and we want to build on the good work already being done.”
Terry Peel further stated that:
“Our priority is to make the transition as straightforward as possible for residents, their families and colleagues, while ensuring both homes have the support and resources they need as part of the wider group.”
Regarding the completion of the transaction, Terry Peel added that:
“We would like to thank Harvey Zemmel, former owner of St Armands Court and The Hollies, for his cooperation throughout the transition, along with Marcus Armstrong and the team at Brabners solicitors and Ian Wilkie of Healthcare Property Consultants Limited for their advice and support during the acquisition.”
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What Is the Background of This Particular Development?
The acquisition of St Armands Court and The Hollies represents a continued strategic expansion for The HICA Group across Yorkshire and the Humber. As a registered housing association and not-for-profit care provider, The HICA Group operates a network of residential care homes, dementia care facilities, and home care services across the region. Prior to this transaction, both Church Lane properties were managed under independent ownership by former owner Harvey Zemmel, serving the local population of Garforth and the wider East Leeds area.
The transaction brings both residential sites under a unified governance structure while tapping into regional demand for specialized dementia and elderly residential care beds.
Professional services for the acquisition were coordinated by corporate law firm Brabners solicitors, led by partner Marcus Armstrong, along with specialist real estate advisory from Healthcare Property Consultants Limited director Ian Wilkie.
What Is the Prediction for How This Development Will Affect the Local Care Sector and Service Users?
This acquisition is expected to impact several key stakeholder groups across the Leeds care ecosystem, primarily residents, care staff, and local authority health commissioning bodies.
For residents and their families, the retention of existing care staff provides immediate stability, minimizing disruption to daily care routines and familiar personal relationships. Access to the wider organizational infrastructure of The HICA Group is likely to bring standardized staff training frameworks, enhanced activity programs, and centralized quality assurance systems to both Garforth properties.
For care employees currently working at St Armands Court and The Hollies, employment continuity under a larger regional provider offers potential pathways for professional development, structured career progression, and group-wide training resources that smaller independent operations may not easily provide.
For local health authorities and social care commissioners in Leeds, the transfer of ownership to an established regional operator secures the ongoing availability of 68 residential and dementia care beds in East Leeds.
As local demand for dedicated dementia care facilities continues to grow alongside an ageing demographic, the operational backing of a larger group helps safeguard long-term capacity for both short-term respite and permanent residential placements in the Garforth community.
