A new housing scheme of much needed bungalows for older people will be officially opened at a ceremony next week involving developers and Nottingham City Council.

The 38 two-bedroom bungalows in Gainsford Close have been built on the site of a former sheltered housing scheme – and will provide accommodation for people over 55.

The development is a partnership between Nottingham City Council which has provided the land, building contractor Westleigh Developments Ltd and housing provider Derwent Living which will manage the properties via Nottingham's Homelink Choice Based Lettings system. The partnership arrangement has received £300,000 in funding from the Homes and Communities Agency's Affordable Housing Programme.


Councillor Dave Liversidge, Nottingham City Council's portfolio holder for adults, housing and the community sector, said: "These new bungalows provide high quality homes for older people living in the city. The development will offer modern, attractive and easy to manage homes in place of a sheltered housing scheme for which demand was very low.

"Nottingham needs a mix of high quality housing to suit the city’s older population and this, in turn, should free up under-occupied and much needed family housing.

"By moving vacant sites like Gainsford Close forward for suitable development, the city council is proactively helping to meet the need for local affordable housing, giving a boost to the local housing market and providing employment, training and supplier opportunities for local job seekers and businesses."

Samantha Veal, head of development at Derwent Living, said: "The Gainsford Close scheme shows that we are helping to regenerate areas where there is a need for new affordable housing. By working in partnership with Nottingham City Council and Westleigh, we are able to deliver high quality homes which meet the needs of the community."

The scheme is part of one of the city council’s manifesto pledges to provide accommodation for over 55s.

(CD/MH)