An expansion approved for Sherwood Oaks in Cranberry will add new homes and give more elbow room to some current residents.

The continuing care retirement community off Rochester Road plans to begin construction in late spring or early summer.

The project will add 24 new apartment units, 21 patio homes and 30 new personal care/assisted living apartment units to the 82-acre complex.

The property currently has 244 residential units and 84 skilled-nursing apartments.

The patio homes will be built primarily in sets of two, duplex-style, on the north rim of the property, which is reached from Norman Drive.

Mark Bondi, president and chief executive officer, said the 25-year-old health center on the property will be given a new look by eliminating the once-popular semiprivate rooms.

Each of the 46 rooms will be converted to private rooms.

"The [semi-private rooms] are no longer state-of-the art. There are issues with sleep and infection control,'' he said.

Mr. Bondi said expansion has been in the works for about five years.

The additions will be done in a single phase and include a new employee parking lot.

The plans were approved Feb. 7 by township supervisors.

No one spoke against the plan at a Jan. 31 public hearing.