Residents praise new housing scheme which supports people with disabilities

The scheme at Ullswater Road, Golborne, has 12 apartments for adults with autism and or learning disabilities and 19 bungalows for a mixture of families and individuals.

A couple of Golborne’s newest residents have described how their move has been a ‘god send’ after moving from their home in Leigh which was making life 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 which have 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.”

The Ullswater Road development is funded through a combination of the 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.

Coun 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 which 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 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.”