Former singer Carol Hussain has often entertained residents at PFH pop-ins in years gone by, which is when she first set her sights on living in one of our properties.
Now, she can’t wait to move into her new two bedroom, two bathroom home at Bilson’s Yard, in Reynoldson Street. The allocation of Mrs Hussain’s property was made possible after PFH purchased two bungalows from Nagra Properties. The bungalows are situated within a gated community just a stone’s throw away from Newland Avenue.
“It’s absolutely beautiful,” said Mrs Hussain, who suffers from regular bouts of chronic back pain and needed more suitable accommodation for the future. “I can’t wait to move in. I know we will really settle there and I’m looking forward to being part of the PFH community.
“I’ve always known how good PFH homes are, my Mum lived in Malin Lodge and she really did get a new lease of life when she moved there. Sadly, she only got six months there before she died, but we always say it was the best six months of her life as she developed such a social life – I really do think the sheltered living properties are life savers for people.
“My partner is an electrician and he has worked as a contractor on some of the PFH properties over the years, he’s always said they are a fantastic landlord and so responsive. I also used to sing in some of the pop-ins such as Barrington and Wheatfield to entertain the residents and they were always telling me I should apply for a PFH property one day.
“Our new home is just around the corner from our daughter and grandson, which is ideal so we can help her and she can also help us when I’m not well with my back.”
The development is situated on the old Newland Avenue Primary School site. Built in 1896, and designed by prominent local architect, John Bilson, the former school is the most complete and least altered of Hull’s 15 surviving unlisted boarding schools. Its restoration and redevelopment has been approached very sensitively to maintain many of the original features, such as the old bell tower.
Bilson’s Yard comprises 14 luxury apartments and was driven forward by innovative developer Nagra Properties, with two old outbuildings converted into state-of-the-art bungalows ideally suited for acquisition by PFH. Hull City Council provided grant funding towards the bungalows via the Right to Buy scheme.
“These properties truly are lifetime homes,” said Martin Sherman, Property Services Director at PFH. “There is one bedroom downstairs and one in an upstairs area within the roof, which means that the use of the downstairs bedroom could be quite flexible and then used later in life if a ground floor bedroom is needed for health reasons.
“Both of the properties have two car parking spaces and benefit from the security of being inside a gated community. We are really pleased to be welcoming the new residents to PFH and to be further expanding our property portfolio.”