[R]esidents of a £2.5m specialist supported living scheme for disabled adults were warmly welcomed into their new apartments at an official launch event in Workington today.
Viaduct Court, a development of sixteen new apartments on Falcon Street people with physical and learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes.
Viaduct Court, which was previously a derelict grade two listed building for two decades, has been developed by local specialist supported housing developers Acer Holdings Limited.
Tenants were joined by Elizabeth Mallinson (Chair of Cumbria County Council), Ian Jones (Chief Executive of Allerdale Borough Council) and the Mayor and Mayoress of Workington at a special event to mark the official launch.
A spokesperson for Acer Holdings Limited, said: “We are delighted to welcome some of the most vulnerable people in our community to our new development. Judging from the waiting list of people wanting to move in, there’s clearly a need for more of these kind of developments where vulnerable people are given the opportunity to live more independently from their parents or in sheltered accommodation.
“We are pleased to be bringing more of these developments to Cumbria and we are grateful for the support of all the officers who commission adult social care services and local politicians who are supporting us to deliver them in the region.”
Mayor of Workington, Councillor Barbara Cannon, said: “I’m really impressed that this place has been brought to life in such an imaginative way to enable people to enjoy their lives here and especially to help people who perhaps, in the past, haven’t had the chance to live in their own place before.”
Elizabeth Mallinson, Chair of Cumbria County Council, said: “This is a remarkable addition to our local community and I’m delighted that the scheme has proved so popular with the tenants and their families. Viaduct Court has a real community feel to it and I’m delighted to see a positive partnership coming together between the public and private sector to deliver this scheme.”
Alastair Sheehan, director of HBV, which worked alongside Acer, added: “This kind of specialist supported living schemes help tackle the issue of isolation faced by vulnerable adults. They give residents the choice to live where they want to, independently and in a safe environment.”
