Member Article

OVH enhancing Independent Living with innovative renovation scheme

One Vision Housing is transforming derelict community centres into bespoke homes for its Independent Living Service.

The first conversion project, Brownmoor Community Centre in Crosby, was recently completed.

The centre, which has been unused since 2010, has been transformed into an adapted bungalow, to provide housing for individuals or families who require assistance to live independently in their homes.

The property is ideal for a customer with physical disabilities. It is extremely spacious, with substantial aids and adaptations throughout, including widened doorways internally and externally, a spacious wet room and ramp access.

Suzanne Meylan, One Vision Housing’s Independent Living Manager, said: “It’s important that we can provide accommodation tailored to the specific needs of local people. We have worked closely with our Assets Team and utilised an unused building to do exactly this; creating a safe environment that is adapted to the needs of these customers, while also contributing to the regeneration of the area.”

OVH acquired 12 community centres when it formed in 2006 as part of the stock transfer from Sefton Council. Some of these community centres are still occupied by local community groups, however, ones that are unused have been earmarked for refurbishment prospects; providing OVH with opportunities to create new homes while regenerating the local area.

OVH has a substantial Aids and Adaptations budget, and last year spent over £900k making physical alterations to properties, helping disabled or older customers to live independently in their homes.

OVH is also the only Housing Association in Merseyside who covers the majority of Aids and Adaptations without funding from the local authority; as OVH pays for up to £10k of adaptations per property, before any funding is requested externally.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jonathan Kearney .