Work to create a £19 million housing estate has begun in Workington.
The 107-home development, on Lawson Street, will have 79 apartments for people with extra care needs and 28 affordable rent bungalows for people aged over 55, plus facilities including a community café and hair and beauty salon.
It is being built by The Riverside Group and Atkinson Homes and it is hoped it will be completed by October 2024.
Called Harbour Place, Riverside said it was part of its ongoing commitment to the local community, following its merger with Impact Housing in 2018, regenerating a brownfield site which has been disused since terraced housing was demolished over 30 years ago.
John Glenton, Riverside’s executive director for care and support, said: “We are really excited to see work starting on this key extra care scheme, which will bring huge benefits to the local community.
“An extra care scheme of this size will not only offer support to people in the area with care needs; there will be training and employment opportunities available too.
“Riverside is one of the largest providers of care and support services in the country with a proven track record of transforming lives and revitalising neighbourhoods.
“Impact Housing, which is now part of the Riverside Group, has long standing ties with the area and we are pleased to be renovating a site that was formerly considered an eyesore into a high-quality development which will benefit the local community.”
Steve Atkinson, managing director of Atkinson Homes, said: “We are delighted to work with Riverside once again and be able to allow them to deliver this notable retirement scheme for Allerdale.
“This is another milestone in the growth and success of Atkinson’s. Our team is proud to have been a significant element in this major scheme getting to site, some four years since it was first suggested.”
Allerdale Borough Council’s housing manager Andrea Smith said: “We are delighted to see work starting on the Riverside Extra Care housing scheme in Allerdale.
“A quarter of Allerdale’s population are aged over 65, so it will be brilliant to see the 107 affordable homes and the support that this scheme will bring to people with growing housing support and care needs in our community.”
