Scheme starts to offer new era of living for elderly

A ground-breaking ceremony yesterday marked the start of the Greyfriars project to provide a new model of housing with care and support to replace Richmondshire District Council's sheltered housing scheme.

Replacing two old fashioned retirement sites, it will provide 39 two bedroomed apartments for older people with a range of care and support needs when it is completed next spring.

The district council teamed up with Housing 21, North Yorkshire Council, and contractor Frank Haslam Milan North East for the development.

Clare Hemming, a programme manager for Housing 21, said: "The new extra care scheme will provide residents with a safe and secure environment with appropriate care and support to meet their individual needs."

County Coun Chris Metcalfe, cabinet member for adult and community services, said it was the 14th extra care scheme that the county council had been involved with. It would be "a tremendous asset to the town and residents of Richmond".

Residents can rent or buy their property on a shared ownership deal. Apartments offer wheelchair access, individual sitting rooms, fully fitted kitchens, walk-in showers and non-slip flooring in kitchens and bathrooms.

An on-site team will provide care and support, tailored to meet individual needs. Communal facilities will include a lounge, restaurant, hairdressing salon and landscaped gardens..

Coun Peter Wood, Richmondshire's housing spokesman, said it would replace an outdated sheltered housing scheme and benefit the older residents of Richmond and Richmondshire well into the future.

David Mellor, managing director of FHM North East, added: "Age should not be a barrier to the way people live their lives and our schemes reflect this."