A housing association has opened more than 20 new apartments on the site of a former Carlton pub to provide accommodation for groups including young people at risk of homelessness. The Nottingham Community Housing Association (NCHA) has officially launched the new flats for some of society's most vulnerable.
Ten of the new apartments will be let to people between the ages of 16 and 21 who are experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness. The other thirteen flats will be for adults living with a learning disability, mental health condition, physical disability or autism.
Gemma DeBrito, the Assistant Director of Homes and Wellbeing for NCHA, said: "The building and self-contained flats have been designed for purpose, to best suit the people that will be living and receiving support there. Sensitively designed, trauma-informed spaces impact our wellbeing.
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"Creating beautiful spaces bring about positive benefits to not only the people that live in care and support services, but also those who work in them. The design of Earls Court has been created in such a way, that the very landscape of the building will contribute towards improving the positive outcomes of the people who will live there."
The homes will be fully furnished and the young tenants will get dedicated support in learning how to run a home and plan their finances. The adult tenants, meanwhile, will learn essential life skills to prepare them for a life in independent accommodation.
All 23 flats will benefit from out-of-hours emergency support. Earls Court is based on the site of the former Earl of Chesterfield pub in Carlton. The site was officially opened on Thursday (July 6) by NCHA representatives and Nottinghamshire County Council, with the authority having worked in partnership with NCHA on the £3.5 million project.
Councillor Matt Barney, the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Public Health at Nottinghamshire County Council said: "These new flats will offer supported accommodation for some of the vulnerable people we work with, such as young people moving on from care or facing homelessness, and people with autism, a mental health issue or learning or physical disability. The support on offer will help the residents to regain the skills they need or learn new ones, to help them take the next steps to live fulfilling and independent lives within their local community."
