WESTWARD has worked in partnership with Cornwall Council to adapt three properties to be wheelchair-friendly at a new development in Bude.

Sixty-one homes have been built by Bovis Homes at Binhamy Farm over the last four years and have been taken on by Westward for affordable rent to local people in desperate need of affordable housing.

The homes were built in four phases and have been let to families from the ‘Cornwall Homechoice housing waiting lists’ who are both local and in need of affordable rent.

The wheelchair-adapted homes have been fitted with wet rooms, through-floor lifts and adjustable height work surfaces.

The three disabled people who have been allocated these homes are all wheelchair users and had been in priority housing need.

Gary Morris, occupational therapist for Cornwall Home Solutions, said: “The residents have been enabled to live as independently as possibly by the installation of well-designed adaptations. These include doors and windows that open by sensor control. The adaptations were chosen by occupational therapist, Deborah Latter, and Home Solution’s Karen Hamilton.”

Funding for the project came from both Westward and Cornwall Council’s affordable housing funded programme along with a disabled facilities grant from Cornwall Home Solutions.

Westward’s executive director of development and commercial, Jill Gregg said: “This is a fantastic outcome and a great example of what can be achieved through partnership working. Not only have a large number of general needs affordable housing for rent been provided on this site, the provision of the adapted units will provide excellent homes for those families with very specific needs.”

Cornwall has high average house prices of £243,194, over 11 times the average yearly income. With average private monthly rents of £658, this accounts for 43% of average net monthly income.

There are currently over 300 people on the housing need list in Bude and four households requiring an adapted home.

Cornwall Council cabinet member for housing and environment, Joyce Duffin, said: “I’m delighted that Cornwall Council’s affordable housing and home solutions teams in partnership with Westward and Cornwall Rural Housing have funded and helped disabled people secure accessible housing in Bude.

“This is a result of strong partnership work between Cornwall Home Solutions, the council’s affordable housing team, Cornwall Homechoice, occupational therapy teams and colleagues in health. The facilities within these homes will make a great difference to the lives of the families involved.”