03/07/2008   D8/08   Downland

Start on site is a shot in the arm!

A start on site ceremony held today was a shot in the arm for the former Westbourne Hospital site as work begins to create new apartments for part buy part rent; homes for people with learning or physical disabilities and short term accommodation.

Attended by representatives from Brighton and Hove City Council, Affinity Sutton, Downland and Rok this new development embraces the spirit of the former hospital through the provision of brand new purpose built facilities for adults with learning or physical disabilities, made possible through the proceeds from the sale of the homes for part buy part rent.

The new scheme is being developed by Affinity Sutton on behalf of Downland and is very much a partnership between Brighton and Hove’s Integrated Learning Disability Service and their Housing Strategy Team and local contractors, Rok. 

As part of the council’s wider rationalisation of services for this sector of the community and in response to local need, the aim is to consolidate and improve care in the community for this vulnerable client group,

Importantly there has been no loss of service to local people.  Services previously provided at Westbourne were moved some time ago to new facilities at the Neville Hospital and Millview, located nearby, as the existing premises were no longer suitable.

Working together, Downland and Rok, hope to repeat their recent success at Monarch’s View in Portslade, at which they won the Best Access/Disability Innovation gong at the LABC Sussex Built in Quality Awards.

The heritage of the site will also be retained as a number of protected trees on the boundary of the site will also be preserved.  Another unique feature will the introduction of a car club for the benefit of residents of the new scheme and nearby. 

Michelle Lock, Director of Care and Support Services for Downland commented; “Today sees the start of a great new scheme for local people.  It combines Downland’s commitment to delivering excellent services to local people and investing in our communities through the provision of brand new purpose built facilities for vulnerable people along with the opportunity for local people to get a step on the property ladder.”

Andrew Troop, Regional Customer Leader at Rok Brighton, said: “The turf cutting ceremony will mark the start of what will be a very positive construction project for Hove, and which will greatly boost the city’s ability to provide high quality affordable housing.

“We are immensely proud of the relationship we have established with Downland and are delighted to be involved in the Westbourne scheme.

“Relationships such as these have helped make Rok one of the UK’s leading providers of services to the social and affordable housing Sector.”

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