Press Releases
- Residents get a feel for new St Albans sheltered scheme -
17 December 2010
Best friends Josie and Kath choose their new apartments.
Local residents were invited to a ‘come-and-see’ event at Baldock’s Temple Court Flexicare development because of its similarity to Rosewood Court, St Alban’s new state-of-the art sheltered scheme being built in Park Street.
Rosewood Court is being built and managed by local housing association, North Hertfordshire Homes in partnership with St Albans City and District Council.
Residents were moved to other sheltered schemes, bungalows and flats early this year as work started on the new £4.5m development that replaces Eric Steele House previously in Park Street. Rosewood Court was designed in full consultation with residents and some of the facilities requested include more communal areas, beauty treatment rooms and a computer suite.
During the visit to Temple Court , also developed by North Hertfordshire Homes, the visitors had a presentation from local architect Colin Smart who led a tour of the communal areas and an apartment. Mrs Kath Dennis who is temporarily residing at a scheme on Tavistock Avenue said “We had no space in Eric Steele, but in Rosewood Court we’ll have lots more room to move about. At the consultation I even asked for a balcony and the architect said ‘we can do that’.”
After the tour, the St Albans visitors were shown floor plans of Rosewood Court and selected the flats they would most like to move into.
North Hertfordshire Homes Chief Executive, Kevin Thompson said “Our Rosewood Court scheme will have many similarities with Temple Court because we involve residents in our designs. We want to encourage independent living, and facilities such as health and beauty rooms, access to the internet and additional communal activity areas are important to older residents who are becoming much more active”.
Councillor David Poor, Portfolio Holder for Housing for St Albans District Council said, “Rosewood Court is the first of the new generation of housing schemes offering a higher standard of living. It shows the council’s commitment to make sure residents in these new schemes have a big say in their design and furnishings. I will make sure that residents in our other sheltered schemes have the same opportunities to have a big say in the other new buildings and they will also be invited to visit Rosewood Court when it is completed.”
North Hertfordshire Homes secured £2.2m funding from the government’s Homes and Communities Agency and the scheme is on target for residents to move in next autumn. The flats will be available for rent to former residents of Eric Steele House and to local people nominated by St Albans District Council. Anyone interested, should contact the Housing Lettings department on 01727 819480.
