Over-55s homes plan for Oversteads House Ushaw Moor

PLANS to build nearly 40 affordable homes for older people on two former sheltered housing units have been given the go-ahead.

The Vela Group, also known as Housing Hartlepool, wants to build 20 apartments and two bungalows on Brandon House, in Brandon, and 16 apartments on Oversteads House, in Ushaw Moor, both near Durham. All accommodation would be exclusively for the over-55s.

The two 1970s-built sheltered housing units closed in November 2010, despite an outcry from their remaining 26 residents.

Earlier this year, Durham County Council’s cabinet agreed to hand over the two plots, together worth around £285,000, free of charge – allowing the Vela project to access £1.3m from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

The council’s central and east area planning committee granted planning permission for the project during a meeting at County Hall, Durham, on Wednesday.

On the Brandon House plans, Brandon Labour councillor Paul Taylor, who chaired Wednesday’s meeting, said: “I’m very much in favour of this – in fact I’m delighted to see it come about. It’s much needed.
“Unfortunately the former (latterly Liberal Democrat-run Durham) city council allowed Brandon House to fall into disrepair to the point where it couldn’t be brought up to a decent standard.
“Today we’ve got the sun coming out from behind the clouds. I look forward to it being developed and being kept for over-55s for years to come.”

Planning officer James Taylor said: “We think this is a good addition to the area. It’s high-quality housing.
“It’s great it’s HCA funding. It will be available (for over-55s) in perpetuity as a result of that.”

On Oversteads House, Deerness Valley Lib Dem councillor John Wilkinson said: “Oversteads House had built-in redundancy.
“I’m very, very pleased that Oversteads is being demolished and that a fantastic, sustainable development is going to take its place.
“It’s (HCA) money my ward, or any ward, can’t afford to lose.”

There were no objections to the Brandon House scheme and just one regarding Oversteads House. Both schemes were approved unanimously.

The old sheltered housing units will be demolished to make way for the new developments.

via Over-55s homes plan for Durham former sheltered housing units From Durham Times.

Ushaw Moor youngster is coming home and leaving ‘crazy legs’ behind (From The Northern Echo)

A SCHOOLBOY who travelled to the US for life-changing surgery is due to fly home tomorrow, with medics hopeful his operation will be a lasting success.

Five-year-old Thomas Brennan’s spastic diplegic cerebral palsy left him in constant pain and often unable to walk more than a few steps at a time.

Desperate to help, his mother, Jodie Bussey, decided to send him to the US for pioneering surgery, which involves cutting into the spine and severing the nerve that was causing the spasticity in his legs.

Following a massive outpouring of public support, more than £40,000 was raised for Thomas’ treatment in only six months.

The youngster, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, who calls his condition – officially known as Little’s Disease – his “crazy legs”, underwent the surgery in St Louis’ Children’s Hospital, Missouri, on Tuesday, August 14.

He is now able to walk freely without help or equipment, though he remains nervous about doing so.

via Ushaw Moor youngster is coming home and leaving ‘crazy legs’ behind (From The Northern Echo).

Thomas walking tall after surgery From Durham Times

A SCHOOLBOY who underwent pioneering surgery only three weeks ago is now walking non-stop without aid indoors, his mother has said.

Five-year-old Thomas Brennan, whose spastic diplegic cerebral palsy left him in constant pain and often unable to walk more than a few steps at a time, went under the knife in St Louis Children’s Hospital, Missouri, in the US, on Tuesday, August 14.

His recovery continues to amaze medics and he is now able to walk freely without help or equipment.

From St Louis, his mother, Jodie Bussey, told The Northern Echo: “Thomas really is doing excellent. He is walking non-stop in the hotel now, though still building up the courage to do so outside.

“His strength is building every day, though he still has a very long way to go before returning to his full strength he was before the operation.”

Thomas, from Ushaw Moor, County Durham, who called his condition, also known as Little’s Disease, his “crazy legs”, travelled to the US following a six-month, £40,000 fundraising campaign.

via Thomas walking tall after surgery From Durham Times.