Planning permission has been granted for 13 dementia friendly affordable bungalows which will be built at Lyndon Walk in Blyth as part of Northumberland County Council’s overall commitment to increase the availability of housing to meet the needs of all residents. 

 

The bungalows have been designed to specifically support residents who are living with dementia and Alzheimer's enabling them to live independently in their own home, with support from their spouse, family or carers.   

 

The two bedroomed properties will be built by Ascent Homes for Northumberland County Council.  They will be available for affordable rent and allocated via a special allocations process led by the county council’s Adult Social Care service.  

 

The small housing complex will be managed by Northumberland County Council Housing Service staff. Extra care and respite care for the spouse will be provided by a new team. 

 

The development has been designed throughout to suit dementia clients, with features including level access wet rooms and a technology system in each bungalow that will allow carers to be seen by the resident on a two-way screen. There will also be smoke and heat detectors that can alert carers if needed, signage to aid wayfinding and contrasting colours in the bathroom and hallway doors to help with identification. Outside, there will be an inner sensory garden that is safe and secure for residents to experience. 

 

Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle, cabinet member with responsibility for housing said: 

 

“Northumberland has an increasing ageing population with associated health and social care needs. However, getting older and living with a disability or a mental health condition should not be a barrier to living a full, independent life with a choice of appropriately designed, well located accommodation. 

 

“Providing affordable housing that is well-designed for the elderly and those with disabilities is a key part of our housing strategy.” 

 

Northumberland County Councillor Wendy Pattison, cabinet member for Adults’ Wellbeing added:  

 

“I am thrilled that this scheme has received the go-ahead. Helping people with dementia was one of my main priorities when I became a cabinet member for adult social care and these bungalows are exactly what I envisaged 

 

“This supported living scheme has been designed to meet the changing needs of older people and vulnerable needs groups in the Blyth area and will support residents' desires to live securely and independently in their own homes and communities over their lifetimes.” 

 

 Leader of Northumberland County Council, Glen Sanderson said: 

 

“The provision of more affordable housing, in areas of need, continues to be one of the county council's top priorities, and our plans include investing millions to address the issue.  

“The population of Northumberland is dispersed over a wide area and has varying housing requirements. The new bungalows that are to be built in Blyth have been designed to make life easier for some of our most vulnerable residents and their families.” 

 

It is intended that the bungalows will be built with the help of funding from Homes England, a government grant funding programme designed to boost the construction of affordable new homes, as well as capital funding from the county council’s Adult Social Care budget to support the delivery of housing to maintain independence.