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The Manors will welcome George home
Released on 24 July 2009The Manors Extra Care housing scheme for older people in Prudhoe will welcome home one of the longest standing residents of the flats it has replaced.
George Smith, 93, lived in the old Manors flats for more than 20 years before moving out when redevelopment work was due to begin.
Now Milecastle Housing, part of the Isos Group, is close to completing the rebuilding of The Manors, which will be run as an 'Extra Care' scheme for older people with 46 flats -the first of its kind in Northumberland.
The scheme is being developed in partnership with Northumberland Care Trust and Northumberland County Council. The former Tynedale Council was also involved in its inception.
Mr Smith and the other residents will be able to live independently, but also have access to as much care and support as they require with a care team on site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The new building is also intended to play a role in the local community, with a restaurant open to the public and an internet café available.
Mr Smith, who grew up in Banffshire in Scotland, moved into the old Manors in 1983 after working in Prudhoe for many years.
He has happy memories of living there, enjoying the view of farms in the Tyne Valley and making many friends in the West Wylam community. He has been living in Corbridge while construction work has been going on.
He said: "I always enjoyed living at The Manors and it will be great to come back here. The new building is very impressive and it will be nice to come home to Prudhoe."
A typical flat in the development will have two bedrooms, a large kitchen/living space, and even a walk in shower.
There will be 46 flats in total, with 34 for rent and 12 to buy on a shared ownership basis. All the rented flats have now been allocated and Milecastle is working through applications for the shared ownership flats.
Julie Sedgewick, scheme manager for Milecastle Housing, said: "We are delighted to be able to confirm people's places to live at The Manors. George and all the residents will be made really welcome, and they will get all the support they want to enjoy life as they want to live it."
The Manors is being built with £4.5million of Department of Health funding, and will cost around £6.5million to complete.
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