Work is now finished on a new £2.3m housing development that aims to let older people “live independently for as long as possible".

The 18 new homes, on the site of the former St Joseph’s parish centre, school and presbytery on Horace Street in Halliwell are all one bedroom “cottage style” flats and have been designed specifically with residents over the age of 55 in mind.

Bolton Council leader Cllr Martyn Cox was on hand to cut the ribbon on the new homes this week, which have been developed by Great Places Housing Group

Executive director of growth at Great Places, Helen Spencer, said: “We’re delighted to have been able to show Cllr Cox and his team around this age-friendly scheme, that addresses the specific need for this type of accommodation in the local area.

“The apartments have been carefully designed to enable our future customers to live independently for as long as possible.

“The project is a great example of partners working together to develop much needed affordable homes for the area.”

The Bolton News:

The homes were designed with older people in mind

The company claims that the homes will be available at “affordable” rents and include wet rooms as well as a range of amenities aimed at making them more accessible for older people.

The development, which was designed by Leeds-based Brewster Bye Architects, also includes features for residents including a shared garden, separate herb garden and pocket library.

Most of the homes were built in just six months using modern methods of construction (MMC) including a panelised system with internal and external panels which designers say makes the process of building much faster.

Brewster Bye Architects director Nathan Wilkinson said: “This is a project that the whole development team can be proud of.

“It now offers 18 exceptional homes in a popular location that were built using MMC, which was fast and efficient.

“There’s also a host of innovative adaptions that will help to accommodate the future needs of elderly residents and enable them to remain in their homes as they age with minimal adaptations required, which will ultimately delay, or even prevent, the need for formal care.”