Start for £19m Workington extra care scheme

Construction has begun on the project, which will see 107 affordable homes and community facilities delivered by the Riverside Group and Atkinson Homes.

Billed as Harbour Place, the Lawson Street scheme is due for completion in October 2024.

The development includes 79 apartments for people with extra care needs and 28 affordable rent bungalows for people aged 55 and over. Facilities for the local area include a café and hair and beauty salon.

Riverside, the Liverpool-headquartered housing association, said that the project is part of its ongoing commitment to the local community, following its merger with Impact Housing in 2018. The scheme will regenerate a brownfield site which has been disused since terraced housing was demolished more than 30 years ago.

John Glenton, Riverside’s executive director for care and support, said: “We are really excited to see work starting on this key extra care scheme, which will bring huge benefits to the local community. An extra care scheme of this size will not only offer support to people in the area with care needs; there will be training and employment opportunities available too.

Steve Atkinson, managing director of Atkinson Homes, said: “This is another milestone in the growth and success of Atkinson’s. Our team is proud to have been a significant element in this major scheme getting to site, some four years since it was first suggested.”

Allerdale Council’s housing manager Andrea Smith, said: “We are delighted to see work starting on the Riverside extra care housing scheme in Allerdale.

“A quarter of Allerdale’s population are aged over 65 years, so it will be brilliant to see the 107 affordable homes and the support that this scheme will bring to people with growing housing support and care needs in our community.”

The bungalows are for people aged 55+. Credit: Riverside