New supported living homes breathe new life into Colne street

When the excited tenants collected the keys to their new bungalows, they became the first residents of the Colne street in a decade.

The 10 one-bed properties on Bright Street provide supported living for single people and couples who have assessed care needs, including people with learning disabilities, mental health conditions or physical disabilities, as well as older people.

The street is a flagship project for adult health and social care charity Making Space, and one of very few developments in the country that have seen an entire road given over to new build supported housing.

The properties have breathed new life into the neighbourhood, with Bright Street devoid of residents since two blocks of empty terraced housing were demolished as part of the regeneration scheme for the Churchfields area in 2009.

They will be operated in partnership with Calico Housing.

Designed as part of a hub and spoke model, 24-hour support is on hand from the experienced staff team at neighbouring Making Space supported housing scheme Limes Place, which launched in December 2018.

Each bungalow in the £1.5m scheme has a fully-fitted kitchen and a modern, accessible wet room

In October 2019, Coun. Ken Hartley, the Mayor of Pendle, was invited to break the ground at the development site.

Speaking at the time, he said: "If I had a blank sheet of paper and was asked to design my ideal sheltered accommodation, this is what I would come up with."

Rachel Peacock, chief executive of Making Space, said: “Bright Street is not only a first for our new tenants, it's a first for us too. This is the first time we have developed a whole street into a supported housing project.

"Making Space develops quality homes that are designed from the bottom up to meet the needs of the people we support.

“Whether a new build, or a conversion, the starting point is always the same: how we can enable people to live as fully and independently as possible.

“Our first Colne development, Limes Place, was quickly recognised by the social care regulator for its high standards. Bright Street will now bring the same quality ethos to a further 10 first class supported living homes.”

Bradley, one of the first new tenants, said: "I wanted to move to Colne and knowing that there would be people around to support me was really important.

"It's exciting to be the first person to move in and I am looking forward to being part of a community with my new neighbours."