A new development for the over-60s has been acquired by Hull-based charity Pickering and Ferens Homes, which owns and manages more than 1,200 properties in the region.
The housing association is delighted to have acquired 20 new bungalows and two bedroomed houses for older people at Junella Fields, based off Woodcock Street, in west Hull, following on from a handover from the contractor, Keepmoat Homes, on March 6, 2012.
Derry and Richard Skelton, who currently live in Hull, are just one of the lucky couples due to move into one of the eco-friendly bungalows at Junella Fields. The new homes are the first in the city to meet Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, a guideline to drive up standards in construction. Typical features in a Level 4 home include cavity, loft and under-floor insulation, on-site recycling of water, high efficiency boilers and high performance double glazed windows and doors. Homes built to this standard could see annual heating bills cut by up to 75 per cent.
The development followed on from a joint bid between Pickering and Ferens Homes and Hull City Council to build new ‘eco’ homes in the city, which saw a grant of £3.3m awarded by the Homes and Communities Agency for three development sites across the city, Junella being one of them.
Mrs Skelton said: “We decided to apply to Pickering and Ferens Homes housing association because we had decided that we wanted to downsize. Our current house is just too big for us, with two gardens that are far too much work to look after. Also, my husband now finds it more difficult to climb the stairs in our house, so we hoped to get a bungalow to make his life easier.
“I heard about Pickering and Ferens Homes through the council. They told me that I didn’t necessarily have to look at a council house, but that we could apply to housing associations. They gave us lots of helpful information, and we chose Pickering and Ferens Homes, particularly because a couple of our old neighbours from where we live now also chose to move to Pickering and Ferens Homes properties.
“We found out before Christmas that we were lucky enough to be moving into one of the new builds at Junella Fields. We couldn’t believe it, and we were delighted to find out that the buildings have been designed with energy efficiency in mind. We are really excited to be moving. It is going to make both of our lives much easier, particularly since everything will be on one level, and we will be saving on heating and energy because the property is smaller.”
Roger Elliot, director of Pickering and Ferens Homes, said: “We are delighted to have taken ownership of the properties at Junella Fields. We are happy with the work undertaken by Keepmoat Homes and the positive partnership between them, Hull City Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and ourselves. We hope that all our residents will benefit from their new homes and enjoy moving in.”
David Ward, managing director of Keepmoat Homes Yorkshire, said: “We are pleased to have completed and handed over these new, affordable homes to our partners – Pickering and Ferens Homes – in a project designed to regenerate West Hull. These properties for rent complement the development of those built for sale, just around the corner in St. Andrew’s Square.
“Throughout the process, which also enjoyed the support of the city council, we have endeavoured to work with local people in order the foster a spirit of community pride in a neighbourhood undergoing significant change.”