Nuplace

David, Kathryn and her children Jade, 20 and Kieran, 17, moved into a three-bedroom Nuplace bungalow on the Wild Walk development in Donnington, on the outskirts of Granville Country Park just before Christmas.

They were one of 12 households to move into the last available Nuplace properties on the site, but the family’s journey to their new private rental home hasn’t been an easy one.

Kathryn, comments:

“We’d been in our previous rental home for 12 years but were asked to leave when the landlord served us with a no-fault eviction.

“This was a really stressful time for us as a family. My daughter, Jade, has profound and multiple learning disabilities, so it wasn’t a case of easily finding another home that was suitable to meet Jade’s needs.

“As we were facing an emergency situation, we were supported through Telford & Wrekin Council’s homelessness team. It was a housing officer who suggested we consider renting through Nuplace and we’re so grateful she did.

“We have found the perfect property. The bungalow gives us the space to provide Jade with everything she needs and importantly gives Kieran his own space too.

“We’re having a new hoist system fitted, which we were not allowed to do in our old property but have had the full support to do it here through occupational therapy. As Jade’s full-time carer, the hoist system will be a huge help to me when providing care around the home.

“Jade is already content living here and we all agree she has the best room in in the house.”                                                                                                                 

David adds:

“It’s been a long journey to get to where we are now. Once we knew we had to move, we looked every day for rental properties, but nothing was available that could suit our family’s needs.

“The day we finally picked up the keys to our Nuplace home and crossed that threshold it felt like a huge weight had been lifted from our shoulders.

“We can’t wait to fully embrace living here and giving both Jade and Kieran the stability they deserve.

“We’ve got lovely neighbours and look forward to being part of the community and will definitely plan to visit the new hub with Jade when it opens as she loves meeting people.

“The Nuplace team has been supportive throughout the moving process, and we look forward to making this bungalow our long-term home.”

The Wild Walk development provides a mix of housing, including privately rented homes available through Nuplace, homes for sale with Lovells and a mix of housing including extra care with Housing Plus Group (former Wrekin Housing Group).

The Stephens’ bungalow is also one of a number of Nuplace homes on the development that have been built to accessible and adaptable standards, allowing people with a range of needs to live independently at home.

In addition, all homes have been built to high sustainability standards and benefit from solar panels, which will help to keep energy prices affordable for tenants.

Councillor Richard Overton, (Lab) Telford & Wrekin Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways, Housing & Enforcement said:

“It gives me great pleasure to know David, Kathryn, Jade and Kieran are settled in their new home and it is helping to meet Jade’s and the family’s needs.

“After the instability of their previous rental, I hope the family feel they have the long-term stability and security of a family home with Nuplace.

“As a council, we are committed to providing quality, privately rented homes that serve the needs of our growing population and provide a home for life. Our specialist and support housing policy sets out our ambition to deliver homes for all, protecting and supporting our most vulnerable adults and children and giving residents access to suitable housing.

“The development at Donnington Wood is large-scale and provides a real housing mix, which is helping to create a new community and to meet people’s housing needs as they change over time, from somebody’s first home to a home, where care and support is provided as required.

“It also includes our first homes built to Future Homes standards, which means they are more energy efficient and will help reduce carbon emissions”

Nuplace Ltd is Telford & Wrekin Council’s wholly owned housing company. Nuplace helps generate an income for the council, which is used to provide vital frontline services.