Demolition of Oversteads House – Ushaw Moor

Only a WEE bit left !

Demolition – Nearly Done !

Oversteads House – During Demolition

Oversteads House – During Demolition

Oversteads House – During Demolition

MORE PHOTOS to FOLLOW

Oversteads House was built in 1972.

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.

READ MORE

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.

Council could hand over land for free for 40-home scheme in Ushaw Moor n Brandon

Nearly 40 new affordable homes for older people could be built in Durham if councillors agree to hand over land free of charge.

Members of Durham County Council’s Cabinet will be asked to approve proposals to transfer land at Ushaw Moor and Brandon to housing provider Vela Group when they meet on Wednesday, 29 February.

The plans follow the decision in November 2010 to close the sheltered housing schemes that currently occupy the sites.

The Oversteads House and Brandon House complexes were built in the 1970s and would require significant investment in order to be brought up to minimum standards, the council says.

Vela Group has been promised almost £1.3m by the Homes and Communities Agency to build 20 apartments and two bungalows on the site at Brandon and 16 apartments in Ushaw Moor on the condition the council hands over the land without charge.

Cllr Clive Robson, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for housing, said: “Oversteads House and Brandon House struggled for a number of years with high management and maintenance costs and with demand for places low retaining the two schemes would have represented very poor value for money for the council.

“Transferring both schemes to a suitable housing provider will instead mean the sites can be redeveloped to create two modern, fit-for-purpose developments of affordable housing.

“In order for this to happen, we have to award the land at ‘nil’ cost but the need for affordable housing on the site far outweighs the price we could receive through the sale of the land.”

If the land transfer is agreed by Cabinet, Vela Group will be required to submit a detailed planning application by the end of March. The company will also need to outline how it plans to create employment and training opportunities through the developments.

via Council could hand over land for free for 40-home scheme » Housing » 24dash.com.

Vela Group wants to build 38 apartments on site of Oversteads House, in Ushaw Moor

NEARLY 40 affordable homes for older people could be built on two former sheltered housing units.

Vela Group wants to build 38 apartments and bungalows on the sites of Oversteads House, in Ushaw Moor, and Brandon House, in Brandon.

Durham County Council agreed to close the two 1970s-built facilities in November 2010, despite outcry from their remaining 26 elderly residents.

Vela, which has been promised nearly £1.3m from the Homes and Communities Agency, wants to build 20 apartments and two bungalows on the Brandon site and 16 apartments in Ushaw Moor.

But the deal depends on the council handing over the land free of charge.

The authority’s cabinet will be asked to approve the transfer when it meets next Wednesday.

Councillor Clive Robson, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Oversteads House and Brandon House struggled for a number of years with high management and maintenance costs and with demand for places low retaining the two schemes would have represented very poor value for money for the council.

via Nearly 40 affordable homes planned for Durham sheltered housing sites (From The Advertiser Series).

We’ll fight closure plan, residents vow; Pensioners blame council for uncertainty.

Byline: Neil McKay

RESIDENTS who say they have been “left in limbo”for five years while civic bosses ponder the future of their sheltered housing have vowed to oppose closure plans.

Durham Council says it doesn’t have the funds to upgrade Oversteads House, at Ushaw Moor and Brandon House, Brandon, both on the outskirts of Durham City Durham City.

But the remaining residents of Oversteads House last night hit out at the “inhumane treatment” they say they have been subjected to by the county council and by Durham City Council before local government reorganisation.

Problems began five years ago when the city council halted a pounds 250,000 upgrade of the properties after the money ran out.

Audrey Renahan, 73, who has lived at Oversteads House for 10 years, said: “There were 34 residents here, but the council stopped encouraging people to move in. Now there are only 11 of us. They say nobody wants to move in, but that is because the future of Oversteads House is so uncertain.

“It is inhumane treating elderly people like this, causing so much uncertainty. We have had this hanging over us for five years. The council has even offered us money to move out, but we are happy and secure here.”

Another resident, Kevin Flaherty, 59, said: “The uncertainty means people are reluctant to spend money on new carpets or furniture. We want to know where we stand, whether we will be still here this Christmas or next Christmas.

“We are a happy community here and don’t want to be split up.”

Betty Underwood, 76, said: “We are happy here, most of us are from Ushaw Moor and don’t want any upheaval at this time of our lives.”

A report due to be discussed by Durham County Council’s Cabinet next week will say that falling demand for Oversteads House and Brandon House means 44% of flats are empty.

Some have been unoccupied for up to four years. They will also hear that a total investment of pounds 1.5m for the 45 flats would not even bring all up to standard. Cabinet member for housing, Coun Clive Robson, said: “We cannot escape from the fact that the ‘bed-sit” that we offer today is no longer fit for our customers.

“In addition there are location problems with Oversteads House in particular. It was built on a slope with very poor access to local shops and amenities. Nevertheless we recognise that, despite all these issues, this is a sensitive subject for the people living in these buildings.

“As such we have consulted extensively with residents and their families who also acknowledge the problems.” But residents of Oversteads House say they have made their feelings clear and that they don’t want to move.

They hope a private landlord or housing association could take over the complex and the one at Brandon and provide the investment required.

Sheltered flats may be closed (From Durham Times)

TWO sheltered housing units comprising 45 flats are at risk of closure.

Durham County Council says fewer people want to live in Oversteads House, in Ushaw Moor, and Brandon House, in Brandon, the properties have poor access and repairing them would be costly.

More than £1.5m would have to be spent to bring all 45 up to standard, a spokeswoman said – more than £33,000 per flat.

The council’s cabinet will be asked to close the two schemes at a County Hall meeting on Tuesday.

Oversteads House, built in 1972, includes 18 bedsits, eight one-bedroom flats, two two-bedroom flats and one three-bedroom flat.

via Sheltered flats may be closed (From Durham Times).