Press Releases
- A Taste of Christmas for sheltered scheme -
19 December 2011
A taste of Christmas has come early for the future residents of St Albans new state-of-the-art sheltered housing scheme in Park Street.
Residents were invited to an advance viewing of their new home at Rosewood Court before being treated to a Christmas Tea Party with special guest, the Mayor of St Albans yesterday (Thursday 15 December).
Rosewood Court has been built on the site of the former Eric Steele House by local housing association North Hertfordshire Homes in partnership with St Albans District City and District Council and in full consultation with the residents.
Councillor Aislinn Lee, the Mayor of St Albans City and District Council, said: 'I was delighted to be invited to this pre Christmas celebration at Rosewood Court along with many old friends and new ones too. The overwhelming impression was that these new flats are 'fantastic'! All are spacious, naturally light and immaculately finished. I would be only too pleased to be able to move into one myself if I needed to. It was doubly special for me, as I take a keen interest in housing provision for the elderly in the City and District and this is a project I have supported for some time. I am therefore very pleased to see this scheme come to fruition in my Mayoral year.”
The communal space will include an activity area, hobby room and health and beauty salon. Each of the 34 flats will be provided with an oven, hob and fridge-freezer, and even a specially divided bin to help make recycling easier.
Resident Kathy Collins was able to view the flat she will be moving into. She said “It’s amazing. It’s more than I hoped for - I’m really pleased with everything.”
Kevin Thompson, North Hertfordshire Homes chief executive said “Although we already have a number of affordable homes in St Albans, Rosewood Court will be our first sheltered scheme built and managed on behalf of St Albans City and District Council. We are delighted that the residents were able to view the scheme and share mince pies with their new community support team”. The former residents of Eric Steele House and other local people will move into Rosewood Court in February.
Councillor, Brian Ellis, Portfolio for Housing at St Albans City and District Council said: “The redevelopment at Rosewood Court is part of the Council’s wider strategy to improve all our accommodation for older people in the District.”
