Durham care provider sees regeneration vision become a reality

A series of modernisation and renovation projects are going from strength to strength in County Durham, with the latest being the flagship £3.6m Castle Court opened by local MP Kevan Jones.

Work on Castle court began last year, alongside the former council-owned Manor House residential home and the office building of Priory Court, all combining to further the care and accommodation available to older people in the region.

Housing provider Derwentside Homes collaborated with housing and regeneration specialists Keepmoat, as well as architects Blake Hopkinson, in realising a vision that includes 41 luxury one and two-bedroom apartments.

Geraldine Wilcox, the Derwentside Homes chief executive, comments: “The needs of our tenants are changing and we wanted to reflect that in the accommodation we are offering to the over 55s.

“Castle Court is our most ambitious project to date and the combination of modern, spacious accommodation, state-of-the-art facilities and fantastic communal spaces such as the courtyard has proved a real hit, with huge demand for these properties. For many people apartments in these new, modern complexes are now the preferred choice over a bungalow.

“But this scheme is not just about accommodation – it also provides a sense of community and encourages tenants to become actively involved in the communities in which they live, therefore tackling the isolation which we know can be an issue for some of our tenants in later life.”

Keepmoat Northern managing director David Ward adds: “With the demand for traditional outdated bedsit accommodation declining in recent years and an ageing population in County Durham, the refurbishment of Castle Court is an exciting and much needed project and represents the next generation of sheltered housing in the area.

“Thanks to the use of innovative design solutions, we have created state of the art, modern facilities for older people who want to live independently in their own home but also within an active and thriving community.”

Darren Blake, partner at Blake Hopkinson Architecture, said of the design: “Castle Court establishes a new quality benchmark for sheltered housing within the Derwentside Homes portfolio. The end result is an accumulation of innovative design and delivery ideas which have been developed and evolved over a series of projects.

“Keepmoat and Derwentside Homes have fully embraced the design and value-led partnership approach, allowing us to exceed end user expectations and facilitating a high quality bespoke solution to this significant landmark project.”

Among those to praise the development is resident Gwen Dryden, who can attest to the differences between the old and new site.

She comments: “There are a few small similarities but most of it has changed completely – it is much bigger now, much roomier and the best thing is I now have doors leading out into the courtyard which is lovely, especially with this nice weather we’ve been having.

“It’s a lovely place and everyone here is so friendly – there is a real community spirit. I feel very lucky to live here.”