Tenants sought for Trust’s extra care housing development in Duns

Scottish Borders Council and Trust Housing Association are seeking expressions of interest from potential tenants for the new Trust extra care housing development due to open at Todlaw in Duns in March 2021.The provision of extra care housing is an integral part of the council’s commitment to supporting older people to live as independently as possible in their own homes and within communities for longer. It combines purpose-built design with the provision of different and flexible services on site.The Todlaw development close to the centre of Duns will offer 30 new apartments which are a mix of one and two-bedroom properties, all of which offer spacious and accessible living design solutions.The range of services and facilities available include repair and maintenance of the property; easy access, secure garden areas; a range of activities, interest groups and events; use of technology and systems designed to provide alerts and functions to provide peace of mind and keep tenants connected and safe.Agreement to proceed with the development was secured at a meeting of the council’s executive committee in August 2018 when grant funding of £1.73 million was approved from the council’s Affordable Housing Investment Budget.The executive committee also agreed at its October 2018 meeting to the allocation of £1.8m to Eildon Housing Association to enable the development of 39 extra care homes in Galashiels. More information on this will be available later in the year.Both projects are part of the council’s Integrated Strategic Plan for Older People’s Housing, Care and Support Needs.