The first residents are now settling in to new homes in Golborne which have been designed to meet health needs so they can enjoy more independence.
The scheme at Ullswater Road has 12 apartments for adults with autism and/or learning disabilities, and 19 bungalows for a mixture of families and individuals.
A couple of Ullswater Road’s newest residents have described how their move has been a ‘God-send’. They have moved to Golborne from their home in Leigh, where life was very difficult for 74-year-old army veteran Ray Maury, who is a wheelchair user.
Ray and his wife Helen have moved into one of the new bungalows and say it has made life so much easier and stress free.
Helen said: “The move has been absolutely superb, we have not had one issue from the very start of the process.
“It was a nightmare in our last home, Ray could not move through the home in his wheelchair but now he can go everywhere he needs to go, it’s made life so much easier, it’s been a God-send for us.
“I can’t thank the council enough, they have done disabled and wheelchair users in general proud with this housing development.”
About Ullswater Road
The Ullswater Road development is funded through a combination of Wigan Council’s capital programme and Homes England’s Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes programme.
Wigan Council has been investing in new social housing for many years and since 2010 has helped develop 482 new homes in the programme.
Cllr Terry Halliwell, portfolio holder for housing and welfare at the council, said: “Wigan Council is committed to delivering high-quality, affordable homes for residents and Helen and Ray’s story is a perfect example of how we are helping people remain independent and connected to communities.
“It’s important we provide a variety of homes for our existing residents and also to attract people to our borough.”
The development is being constructed by Willmott Dixon with the company also responsible for a further development in Hindley. This will have 12 apartments for residents with autism or learning disabilities, and 14 apartments for adults with learning disabilities, six bungalows for older people and one specialist wheelchair adapted family bungalow.
Anthony Dillon, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the north, said: “To hear first-hand what a positive difference these homes are already making to the lives of families in Wigan is truly humbling, and a great source of pride for our team.
“We’re committed to leaving a lasting legacy in all the communities in which we work. Together with our long-term partner Wigan Council, we share an ambition to deliver much-needed new homes and to support local people with complex needs to live happy, fulfilling lives in high quality and supportive environments, where they are connected to, and very much a part of, their local community.”