Scottish accessible housing provider Blackwood launches next phase of pioneering homes
Blackwood Homes and Care has launched a collection of 24 homes in Glasgow that have been fitted with cutting-edge technology to help transform the lives of those with restricted mobility.
Blackwood’s Helenvale development with Cruden Homes celebrated the launch with a virtual event over Zoom where Scottish Housing Minister Kevin Stewart engaged with residents.
The Glasgow East End development is the next phase of the revolutionary Blackwood House and comprises highly accessible and connected two-bedroom flats which have been fully developed with independent living in mind.
Kevin Stewart, who has been Housing Minister since 2016, said that he was delighted that the development, with grant funding from Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council, would provide a model for older people or people with disabilities to live in their own home, within local communities.
He said: “Every time I attend a Blackwood opening there is something that really impresses me. From experience, not only as Minister but in my constituency capacity, I am always amazed at how Blackwood staff go above and beyond the call of duty to help customers.
“I’m really pleased to see Blackwood continue to grow with this development at Helenvale and I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved. I know the amount of team effort that goes into it, and I know Blackwood puts tenants’ needs at the very heart of what it is delivering.
“I have no doubt that Blackwood will have done its best in terms of kitting out those new properties. I wish everyone who has moved in all the very best in your new homes.”
Helenvale follows the hugely successful launch of the Blackwood House in Dundee, and its design ensures people can live safely and independently with choice and control over all aspects of their life.
According to Blackwood, the housing developments have become even more important in the light of COVID-19 pandemic so that people can live safely in their own homes.
Many of the residents, it says, previously lived in accommodation unsuitable for their needs – in family homes, upstairs flats with no lifts, or even in nursing homes.
Simon Fitzpatrick, Development and Commercial Director at Blackwood, said: “The 24 flats at Helenvale have the latest designs and technology to enable people to live as independently as possible, and have been built in line with our Blackwood Design Guide to make them accessible, affordable, connected, as well as beautiful.
“The bathroom and central kitchen design creates a home with no corridors which minimizes unnecessary barriers between living zones and creates an open spacious area that maximizes natural light.
“We have also embraced energy efficiency and low carbon standards by providing underfloor heating and solar panels, meeting current as well as proposed future standards to make each property sustainable and contribute to Scotland’s aim of net zero by 2045.
“None of this would’ve been possible without the commitment of a wide team, including Glasgow City Council’s housing team, occupational therapists and social workers from Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, and crucially our customers, who continue to provide feedback to help us co-design and build homes for the future.”
The innovative homes include automated sliding pocket doors, blinds and rise and fall surfaces, sinks and cupboards, allowing people with a broad range of mobility issues to live independently. Other special features include contemporary bathrooms fitted with a rise and fall sink, a fully-adjustable shower and a self-cleaning toilet.
Blackwood claims to help people live their life to the full, by providing services which support them to live independently. Digital support through its digital care system, CleverCogs, for instance, allows residents to control of all aspects of the house.
As Blackwood works in 29 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, it is more widely dispersed than most other care or housing providers and has used its investment in innovation in design and technology to offer more choice and control to customers across Scotland.
