Blackwood launches next phase of pioneering homes for independent living

A collection of 24 homes fitted with cutting-edge technology and adaptations has officially opened its doors. Blackwood’s Helenvale development with Cruden Homes celebrated the launch with a virtual event over Zoom where Blackwood representatives and residents came together.

The Glasgow East End development comprises highly accessible and connected two-bedroom flats fully developed with independent living in mind.

Fanchea Kelly, Chief Executive at Blackwood, said: “This was an unusual opening of our wonderful new homes at Helenvale. We know how important it is for people to live safely and independently in their own homes – even more so in light of Covid-19 – and Helenvale is a positive step towards delivering truly connected and adaptable homes.

“Of course, the homes really aren’t anything without the people living in them, so that’s why it was so important that residents could share their experiences with us first-hand.”

Helenvale follows the hugely successful launch of the Blackwood House in Dundee. The design ensures people can live safely and independently with choice and control over all aspects of their life. The development has been shortlisted for the best affordable housing development by the UK Inside Housing Development Awards 2021.

Many of the residents previously lived in accommodation unsuitable for their needs – in family homes, upstairs flats with no lifts, or even in nursing homes – so Helenvale is life-changing for them.

One resident said her move to Helenvale was life changing as she was in a care home for the last six years and is delighted to be in her new flat where her family can visit. She also commented on how independent she is now and how she is looking forward to her future.

The parents of another resident said they were “over the moon” that their daughter is thriving in her new home with support from the Blackwood team there. As a family, they had worried about finding the right place for her to live independently.

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 create a home with no corridors which minimizes unnecessary barriers between living zones and creates a spacious open 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 features include contemporary bathrooms fitted with a rise and fall sink, a fully adjustable shower and a self-cleaning toilet.

Blackwood’s digital care system, CleverCogs, allows residents to control all aspects of the house.

Blackwood aims to help people live their lives to the full by providing services that support them to live independently.