Member Article

Mayor unveils £6m ‘Angel’ homes

A NEW £6m extra-care housing scheme overlooking The Angel of the North has been officially ‘topped out’ by the Mayor of Gateshead.

Councillor Michael Hood, the Mayor of Gateshead, clambered up the scaffolding of the six-storey building to apply the finishing touch to the roof, signifying the end of major construction and the start of the fitting out of the multimillion pound development.

With views over the iconic structure, ‘Angel Court’ will offer 45 two-bed extra care flats for elderly and vulnerable people with communal facilities and a further 6 two-bed disabled-adapted bungalows within the grounds.

Gateshead Council has invested £3m into the scheme which was matched by a £3m grant from The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) awarded in September 2009.

The development, on Waverley Road in the Harlow Green area of Gateshead, is being built for Gateshead Council by Frank Haslam Milan.

When completed, the scheme will be jointly managed by Gateshead Council and The Gateshead Housing Company and tenants will benefit from 24 hour care and support from Gateshead Council domiciliary care staff.

Residents will also be able to call upon a full time site manager and full time domestic support.

Gateshead Council cabinet member for housing Cllr Angela Douglas said: “This new development will provide really superb new homes in a great environment for elderly and vulnerable people.

“This is the first extra care development of its kind in Gateshead and we’re extremely proud to be able to provide such a high quality new facility for residents.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .