Housing trust tenant Mark Longstaff’s life has been made easier after moving into a newly adapted property.
Mark, who has Cerebal Palsy, was handed the keys to his new one-bedroom ground floor home at Fortescue House in Laisterdyke by Bradford North MP Terry Rooney on 15 Dec.
His flat has been created out of the conversion of under-used space at Fortescue House and staff from BCHT’s Disabled Persons Housing Service worked closely with Mark and his family to make sure it fully met his specific needs.
It includes a wheelchair accessible kitchen, a wet room, ramp access to the front door and the doorways throughout the flat have been widened.
The improvements were drawn up in line with the Council’s Occupational Therapy assessment of Mark’s needs and the conversion work was carried out by Business Development Services – part of the Bradford Community Housing Trust Group.
Mark lived in a nearby adapted flat at Portland House but to fully meet his needs and give him more independence his landlord, East Bradford Community Housing Trust offered Mark the option of moving into a completely new home with fully modernised facilities at Fortescue House. It offers Mark greater scope to enjoy a better quality of life.
Mark is delighted with his new home. He said: “It’s a fabulous flat and is well laid out for me to get around. The housing trust and the Council have been brilliant and these improvements have made my life a lot easier.”
Dave Dickens, Head of Operations at East Bradford Community Housing Trust (CHT) said: “We are pleased that Mark likes his new home. It has been carefully designed with Mark to meet his needs and give him a better quality of life and greater independence.
“The scheme has been a real team effort between BCHT’s Disabled Persons Housing Service and the Business Development Services, the Council’s Occupational Therapy Unit and East Bradford CHT.”
During 2006/7, BCHT’s Disabled Persons Housing Service will carry out over 300 major adaptations across the district.
13.12.06
