£12million development set for Darwen

The Together Housing Association is set to start work to develop a £12m project to provide housing for older people in Darwen.

The 119-home Shorey Bank development will include a Housing with Care scheme comprising of 85 self-contained apartments, with on-site facilities including a residents lounge, restaurant, hair and beauty salon and secluded gardens.

The Housing with Care scheme will be available for people 50 years and over who have an assessed need for care. The complementary 34 two-bedroom bungalows also on the same site will be available to applicants over 50 years of age.

Together Housing Association, a member of the Together Housing Group, along with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Keepmoat, have been working on the project for the last few years as part of the Council’s vision to expand high quality housing for older people, in the heart of local communities.

Hilary Brady, Group Head of Development, said:

We’ve had to overcome many hurdles to get to this stage, but we’re delighted to have all the agreements in place and get ready to start on site.

We have developed many other Housing with Care schemes across the north of England and we envisage that Shorey Bank will be another jewel in our crown.

The properties will be contemporary, spacious and carefully designed, and with the added facilities, will offer a great place to enjoy life whilst maintaining independence and your own front door.

We have considerable experience in developing fantastic Housing with care schemes for older people who need a little extra help to live independently.

We also welcome the wider community into our schemes, making Shorey Bank a very valuable place for the wider community of Darwen.”

Councillor Mustafa Desai, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said:

This is superb news for the borough – Shorey Bank will be another excellent facility. It’s in close proximity to Darwen town centre and has good public transport links so will have a very positive impact for the whole area.

“We need such high quality and fit for purpose housing in the borough because they enable older people to enjoy their retirement in a safe, secure and vibrant environment with superb facilities on their doorsteps.

“Our goal is to help more and more older people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

Councillor Arshid Mahmood, Executive Member for Neighbourhood and Prevention Services, said:

I am very clear on the need for good quality housing for older people in Blackburn with Darwen.

“This is exactly the kind of development we want to have here and now work is starting in earnest I’m delighted.”

The development will begin this month and will be completed in spring 2018.