Work starts on £6m Durham sheltered housing development

Work has started on a £6m sheltered housing development which will provide luxury accommodation for over 55s.

Lynwood House in Lanchester, County Durham comprises 33 two-bedroom, en-suite apartments for over 55s and also features its own medical centre.

Funding for the £6m development comes from Derwentside Homes with support from the Homes and Communities Agency.

Stephen Melvin, Director of Development and Property Services at Derwentside Homes, said: “We are delighted to see work commence on Lynwood House.

“The development will provide much needed accommodation for the over 55’s as well as providing facilities that will benefit the local area.

“Lynwood House is now our fourth major refurbishment project and will see the creation of luxury apartments and communal facilities.

“We have already fully refurbished sheltered courts at Magdalene Court in Medomsley and Haven House in Leadgate, while Castle Court in Annfield Plain is nearing completion and is expected to open this Spring.

“By working with Durham County Council, local GP’s and community groups, we have been able to ensure that Lynwood House will meet the needs of the local community and like all our other sheltered housing schemes, we are expecting high demand for the properties once they are completed.”

The medical centre will be funded and owned by Trinity Medical Properties Ltd and occupied on completion by Park House Surgery, who currently practice from smaller premises in the village.

John Sample, Trinity’s Managing Director, said: “As part of our UK portfolio of Medical Centres and pharmacies, Trinity is proud of its association with the Lynwood Project.

“The new Medial Centre will provide modern spacious accommodation for the Park House Practice including well fitted out consulting rooms, and a minor operations suite.

“Patients from the practice will benefit from a wider range of medical services planned to be provided from the new spacious facility.”

The sheltered housing development is being built on the site of a former care home which was closed by Durham County Council in October 2010.

Lynwood House is being developed by Galliford Try and is expected to be completed in 2014.

Of the 33 new apartments, 13 will be made available for sale with the rest offered for affordable rent through Derwentside Homes.

Stephen McCoy, Managing Director of Galliford Try Partnerships North, said: “We are delighted to have been selected to build this high quality, modern and flexible facility, which will allow people to live independently, in their own homes, for longer.

“It is a concept we applaud and will, I’m sure, become a model for other, similar developments.”