Making a Difference
to people's lives

Rural home built to suit local family’s needs

The Wrekin Housing Trust is providing a third phase of homes in the rural village of St Martins, near Oswestry.

Working with CGL to develop the homes and a local project board to ensure the homes meet the needs of local people, the Trust has already provided a number of houses and bungalows and this will be the final phase, bringing the total provided to 55 new homes.

One of the properties being built now is a specially adapted bungalow for the Roberts family from St Martins, whose child Martha uses a wheelchair, enabling them to move back to the area and to live in a home that suits their needs and will improve their life.

Helen and family with adaptive bungalow

As part of the National Housing Federation’s Rural Housing Week (11-17 July), which aims to shine a spotlight on rural housing issues and demonstrate how housing associations are helping to maintain these areas, the family visited the site to see how their new home was coming along.

Mum Helen Roberts said: “This is going to be a life-changing move for us. We’ve been in and out of unsuitable accommodation and this bungalow will mean we can have a real family home that’s suited to our children’s needs, giving them more independence. We can’t thank the Trust and partners enough for the opportunity to live in the area we love and feel secure, safe and happy.”

The family will move into the bungalow once complete later this year.

Steve Swann, Development Manager for The Wrekin Housing Trust, said: “These properties will complete the Trust’s development in the area, which have all been built to high sustainability and energy standards. It’s testament to the partnerships we’ve formed that we’ve been able to provide the right homes for people including this bungalow which will improve the Roberts’ family’s life, we can’t wait to see them move in and get settled.”

As well as changing people’s lives for the better, the Bower Farm development has generated £13.7 million to the economy, and created over 125 jobs including a number of apprenticeship opportunities.

13th July 2016