The new Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Norma Wright marked the official naming of ‘Cherry Tree Gardens'. Located in Houghton-le-Spring the £ 6.4m housing scheme is targeted at people over 55 with a care or support need.
Offering 40 self contained apartments, it will provide independent living within community based surroundings, enabling people to access care and support tailored to meet their individual needs.
The housing scheme will also provide a restaurant and hairdressers, both of which are open to the wider local community. There is also a lounge, laundry, healthy living suite, guest room, multi purpose room and landscaped gardens.
The Mayor of Sunderland, Councillor Norma Wright who has always been a vocal advocate of extra care housing schemes, said: “I was delighted as Mayor to be invited to officially name this exciting new housing scheme, which will provide people with supported independence in fantastic new accommodation.
“These new extra care apartments help demonstrate the continued commitment of the City Council and its partners to meeting the long term housing needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The development, which is built on what is believed to have been the orchard of Houghton Hall, received over £2m in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). “Extra Care housing can transform people’s lives, with both privacy and the benefits of a real community, and support services on hand when you need them,” said Anne Mulroy, head of area at the HCA. “Our role is to help councils like Sunderland and housing providers like Gentoo to make things happen in theirown communities, and Cherry Tree Gardens is a great example of that local approach in action.”
Neil Revely, Executive Director of Health, Housing and Adult Services, Sunderland City Council added: “Cherry Tree Gardens is a welcome addition to extra care housing provision in our City, and its successful completion testament to the close working relationship we enjoy with Gentoo.”
The scheme is part of a joint venture that forms part of the Sunderland City Councils Extra Care Housing Programme and the Gentoo Homes Renewal Programme.
Sunderland City Council will provide reablement accommodation from four of the apartments. The reablement service will work with older people to regain important every day tasks to enable them to live on their own in their own home. Reablement is usually for a period of up to 6 weeks, often following a stay in hospital - freeing up hospital beds in the process.
The scheme attracted funding from the Homes and Community Agency‘s National Affordable Housing Programme. and funding from the Department of Health (DOH) Extra Care Housing Fund has been secured.
Wendy Kaiser, lead for the national dementia strategy for Sunderland Teaching Primary Care Trust, said: “We are delighted that we are developing these new ways of supporting people to maintain their independence by living in their own homes.
“The development of extra care and reablement facilities for Sunderland forms a key part of the joint work between the local authority and PCT to deliver the national dementia strategy. “
Ian Porter, Managing Director, Gentoo Sunderland said: “A first for Gentoo, this extra care development is a fantastic addition to our existing portfolio. This is the next step in the development and modernisation of services for older people who require care or support to enable them to maintain independence and quality of life.”
Residents moving in to 7 extra care bungalows from the adjacent PassivHaus development at Orchard Place, Hutton Rise, will also benefit from the full range of services provided by the scheme.
The scheme is due for completion at the end of August 2011.