The future of older people's accommodation in County Durham has been officially unveiled with the opening of a flagship £3.6m housing development, supported with £760,000 investment from the Homes and Communities Agency.

North Durham MP Kevan Jones was joined by local councillors and tenants to mark the launch of Castle Court in Annfield Plain. Work on the project began last year with three existing buildings – the former County Council-owned Manor House residential home, former Primary Care Trust office building Priory Court and the existing Castle Court building – all undergoing major modernisation and renovation and combined to create one stunning new development.

The finished scheme consists of 41 luxury one and two-bedroom apartments, all featuring fully fitted bathrooms and kitchens, as well as an upgraded communal washing/drying area, modern wet rooms, a hairdresser’s room and an IT/cinema suite.

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One of the Court's most attractive features is a large, fully landscaped central courtyard, which joins up all three buildings.

The development has proved a big hit with tenants – the apartments were allletout within weeks of being made available, with the new residents quickly settling in. One tenant who has really noticed the change is Gwen Dryden, a former resident of the old Castle Court scheme who is back living in exactly the same flat she was in before the work took place – although, as Gwen admits, it is now almost unrecognisable.

She said: "There are a few small similarities but most of it has changed completely - it is much bigger now, much roomier and the best thing is I now have doors leading out into the courtyard which is lovely, especially with this nice weather we’ve been having. It’s a lovely place and everyone here is so friendly - there is a real community spirit. I feel very lucky to live here."

Castle Court first opened its doors in 1985 and consisted of 32 bedsits, however, after consulting with tenants and seeing the demand for traditional outdated bedsit accommodation decline in recent years, Derwentside Homes decided to give the building a complete makeover.

(CD)