AX Holdings are investing €43 million in the building of a retirement village in Naxxar, which will include 133 apartments that will see its first residents in November, a Department of Information statement said.

The village, to be known as Hilltop Gardens, was visited by Health Minister Konrad Mizzi and Family and Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia.

The two ministries have set up a working group to address issues related to elderly people, and are looking at ways how to as much as possible enable them to stay within their own community. Minister Mizzi said the rehabilitation of St Luke’s Hospital into a special care treatment centre for the elderly in only one of the ideas the government is working on in this regard.

Dr Farrugia said that the private sector should involve itself more in the issue and take up projects similar to the one embarked upon by AX Holdings.

Mr Anglu Xuereb, president of AX Holdings, said that the village will offer the best possible retirement to its residents.