Holland Street Development Opens
TV personality Timmy Mallett opens special needs housing development
The development by Tenants First Housing Co-operative, near the centre of Aberdeen, has 13 flats on four floors. The flats all have special features tailored to meet the needs of each resident.
[click here to view more photographs from the Opening]
Commenting on the Development, Sandy Murray, Chief Executive of Tenants First, said:
"This new development will provide 13 much-needed homes for adults who have varying forms of learning and physical disabilities.
It’s fantastic to see the individuals enjoying greater freedom in daily life now they are in their own homes
Fiona Poustie
Head of Business Development & Fundraising at Inspire
"The opening will be a particularly exciting day for them. For many of these newest members in the co-operative, this will be the first time they have had their own home, having previously lived in care homes.
"Now they will have their own homes, near the centre of Aberdeen, that have been specifically designed to meet their needs."
Fiona Poustie, Head of Business Development & Fundraising at Inspire, said:
"For most of the individuals based here, this is the first time they have had their own tenancy and experienced the independence that this brings. Good quality housing, with the correct care and support, should enable people with a learning disability to link in with their local community.
" The central location of the development enables access to services and opportunities such as leisure, transport and education – things that some of us take for granted. It’s fantastic to see the individuals enjoying greater freedom in daily life now they are in their own homes.”
The new development has been jointly funded by Tenants First, the Scottish Government and Aberdeen City Council.
The new residents will also benefit from a 24-hour support service provided by Inspire. Helping to enable independent living, residents can call the support workers using a call system and there are automatic sensors to summon assistance when needed.
The new houses have been designed to have particularly low running costs. High levels of energy efficiency are complemented by a renewable energy heating system. Heat pumps extract heat from the outside air and use it to warm the flats through underfloor heating.
The development has two common areas and a secluded garden where the new residents can get together to enjoy social activities.
Timmy Mallett has a particular interest in supporting special needs' communities in Aberdeen as his brother, Martin, lives and works in Camphill's Newton Dee community in Bieldside, Aberdeen.
