Dementia friendly bungalows on countdown for completion
12 Mar 2025
An innovative county council led scheme to build 13 dementia friendly affordable bungalows in Blyth is on countdown for completion with the first bungalows on track to be completed by May.
The specialist bungalows are situated at Lyndon Walk and 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 are being built by Advance Northumberland using modern methods of construction. They will be available for affordable rent once completed and will be allocated via a special allocations panel with referrals from the county council’s Adult Social Care service and specialist NHS services.
The development has been designed throughout to suit people with dementia. Some of the features include:
- Level access wet rooms with non-slip flooding
- A direct line of sight from the bedroom to bathroom
- Easy use locks and door handles
- Lockable cupboards for medicine and cleaning products
- Strong colour contrasting cupboards and worksurfaces
- Wide doorways and turning circles for wheelchair access
- Two-way telecare with pull cords linked to it
- Heat and fire detection sensors that are linked to telecare
- High level water stock cock
Northumberland County Councillor, Colin Horncastle, Cabinet Member with responsibility for housing said:
" Northumberland has an ageing population with changing housing needs and we are working hard to address this.
“Lyndon Walk is such an innovative scheme with so many features incorporated into the design of the bungalows to support people with dementia to lead a safe and independent life.
“The bungalows will also be very energy efficient with the installation of solar panels and air source heat pumps and available for affordable rent which will reduce the financial burden on the occupants who are already going through such difficult times.”
The small housing complex will be managed by Northumberland County Council Housing Service staff.
Northumberland County Councillor Wendy Pattison, Cabinet Member for Adults’ Wellbeing added:
“I am thrilled that this supported living scheme is nearing completion. Once complete we will be providing care and facilities of the highest standard so those living with dementia can continue to live in a safe and comfortable environment in their local community.””
Northumberland County Councillor and local ward councillor Wojciech Ploszaj added:
“These bungalows will be life-changing for the future occupants. We are so lucky to have this ground-breaking supported living scheme in our town.”
The bungalows are being built by Advance Northumberland, 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.