A brand new, state-of-the-art sheltered housing development and medical centre in a County Durham village have been officially opened to the public.
North West Durham MP, Pat Glass unveiled a plaque today, (Friday, December 12) at Lynwood House in Lanchester, to mark the completion of the £6m scheme designed specifically for people aged 55 and over.
The development on Durham Road, consists of 34 two bedroom apartments and includes community facilities such as a laundry, multi-therapy room and cinema room. Also available is a communal area for meetings, training and similar activities and an office, which will be occupied by the local Parish Council.
The development has been constructed to meet the Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 with 10% of the energy generated to run the building to be sourced from sustainable sources. It has been designed with the local environment in mind and finished in stone to give a traditional finish which fits in with the local conservation area.
Also onsite is Lanchester Medical Centre which relocated from within the village earlier this year. Assura Medical Centres Limited, who manage the surgery, worked with Derwentside Homes to provide a modern, sustainable building that meets the needs of the short and long term requirements of the smaller surgery that was located in the village.
Geraldine Kay, Chief Executive of Derwentside Homes, said: “Lynwood House is a fantastic new development for the village which not only provides much needed affordable housing but also the chance for residents to live independently in a safe and secure home. Residents that have already moved in have praised the high quality design features and eco benefits that this scheme provides.
“I would like to thank all our partners for bringing this new development to fruition and Pat Glass MP for helping us to officially open this new scheme today.”
Terry Blair, Practice Manager at Lanchester Medical Centre, said: “The new surgery was designed to meet the needs of our patients and we are confident that we will be able to deliver an improved level of service to patients and residents of Lanchester. Initial feedback from patients has been very positive and we would like to thank the design and build team for completing such a fantastic project.”
Paul Warwick, Project Manager of Assura Group Limited, commented: “Assura are delighted to have worked with Derwentside Homes to support the delivery of the scheme, in particular the Lanchester Medical Centre is a fantastic example of how premises can be well-designed, efficient and fir for purpose. The completion of the new centre means that the practice can now extend the highest quality of facilities and streamlined service to the surrounding area.”
Pat Glass MP, said: “I have been involved, in my own small way in the Lynwood project from when it was little more than an idea and it is fabulous to see it finally open as the superb facility that it is.
“When the closure of the original Lynwood care home was announced, there was a lot of regret, fear and even anger around but even then there were those within Lanchester Parish Council & Partnership that has the vision to see that it could be so much more. I am delighted that those people together with Derwentside Homes have been able to turn that vision into the outstanding reality we see today.”
The development received funding from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). Neil Cawson, Area Manager at the HCA said: “These 34 homes show how Derwentside Homes continues to deliver good quality, well designed homes that complement what is already available and help meet the needs of older people.”
Lynwood House was constructed by Galliford Try Partnerships North. Managing Director, Stephen McCoy, said: “Improving the quality and choice of homes available to people throughout the region is one of our key aims. When this also enables them to live safely, securely and for longer in their communities it adds to the sense of achievement we get from creating modern, sustainable developments.”
Derwentside Homes was advised by financial lawyers, Swinburne Maddison and the architect for the development was Edwards Architecture. Russell Edwards, Managing Director at Edwards Architecture, said: “Lynwood House is a new benchmark for Derwentside Homes – the design approach has resulted in a building that sits in harmony within the conservation area and provides a variety of inspiring and relaxing spaces for the residents and local community to enjoy.
“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Derwentside Homes as a forward thinking client who has supported innovation and new technologies within the design, construction and use of the building, which included the use of Building Information Modelling.”
Photo caption: Pictured left to right: Geraldine Kay, Chief Executive of Derwentside Homes, Sebert Cox, Chair of Derwentside Homes, Colin Burton, tenant of Lynwood House and Vice Chair of Lanchester Parish Council and Pat Glass MP.