Wales

Tai Eryri Housing Association shows how much it cares

The new Penucheldre Extra Care Housing development in the heart of Holyhead, Anglesey, will offer 54 new flats with care and support as needed, when it is completed at the end of the year.

Exclusively designed for the over-60s, the Cymdeithas Tai Eryri Extra Care complex replaces the old sheltered housing scheme that was on the site previously. These 34 self-contained flats were dated and the support and activities that could be offered were limited. The new Penucheldre scheme will subsequently ‘future proof’ the development so that people can stay in their homes for longer.

K&C Construction is the main contractor for the project, which has been funded by the Housing Association and the Welsh Government.

Due to the need to relocate all the residents the Project was split into two phases. The first phase began in March 2010 and the second phase is due to be completed in September 2012.

Each of the 54 modern apartments is spacious and has its own balcony and patio doors along with an all-in-one kitchen and living room area. The scheme will offer both one and two bedroom apartments, all of which will have en-suite wet rooms.

Penucheldre is safe, secure and accessible. There is a lift to all floors and residents have access to a community alarm link with 24-hour support. In addition, all of the flats have a door security system.

Scheme Manager Natalie Parry from Tai Eryri Housing Association said:

“We have had a lot of interest in the development. I think what people like is the fact that these are homes for life, which is the idea that we’re trying to sell.

“Unfortunately it is too often seen that people in ordinary housing are forced to make adaptations; for instance they may have to take the bath out and put level access showers in, or have rails put in the home. Here at Penucheldre, the homes are already fully adapted for a disabled person.

“We are offering an alternative to nursing or residential homes. This way, they can remain in the new homes and we can bring care to them if they need it.

“It is the first Extra Care home on the island and we hope to see more being built in the future as the amount of residential homes by the Council decreases.

 She added: “We’ve already had application forms filled in, and it isn’t even ready until September!”

An important aspect of the scheme is the community hub, which includes a restaurant, fitness room, hobbies room and hairdressers. Non-residents will be invited to join ‘Clwb Pen Llys’ so that they can also join the wide variety of social activities on offer. These will range from healthy living sessions to exercise classes and workshops on anything from crafts and hobbies to information technology.

Local Assembly Member Ieuan Wyn Jones visited the new scheme after the completion of Phase One in March 2011.

Speaking after the event, he said: “I was delighted to meet the new tenants at the new sheltered housing Penucheldre and to hear their positive reaction to their new home.

“The Extra Care housing scheme for older people in Penucheldre has received £4.76m of funding from the Welsh Government’s Social Housing Grant programme, and I am pleased to see that this funding will make a difference to people’s lives.

“This is only the first phase in an impressive project at Penucheldre that will not only allow people to live independently but will also offer facilities for the local community such as a restaurant and fitness room, giving tenants and local residents the opportunity to socialise and keep active.”

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