Positive news for this housing development in Lancaster...

Progress Housing Group’s £23m St Martin’s Court development in the heart of Lancaster has been shortlisted for a prestigious Inside Housing Development Award, recognising a major new development that is already making a difference to the lives of local people.

The new later living scheme provides 92 apartments for people aged 55 and over, offering high-quality homes designed to support people to live independently while being part of a welcoming community.

Tenants began moving into St Martin’s Court, which is on the former Lancaster university campus, this summer following the completion of the development, which has been delivered by Progress Housing Group in partnership with Caddick Construction, Day Architectural, Markhams, Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council.

The development was also supported by grant funding from Homes England.

The recognition comes as tenants begin settling into their new homes and building a new community at St Martin’s Court.

Among those who have moved in are Stuart and Barbara, whose move to St Martin’s Court reunited them after four months of living apart.

The couple, both in their 90s, were able to move into their new home at the scheme.

Their story is one of several captured by Progress Housing Group as part of a series of tenant stories showing what the new development means to the people now calling St Martin’s Court home.

Les Warren, executive director of development at Progress Housing Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to see St Martin’s Court recognised nationally. A huge amount of work has gone into creating a development that not only provides much-needed new homes in Lancaster but has been designed around the people who will live there.

“The real success for us is seeing people moving in, settling into their homes and beginning to build a new community. Hearing their stories and seeing the difference the right home can make is what this development has always been about.

“We know that people’s housing needs change throughout their lives, and St Martin’s Court is a great example of how we can create high quality homes that meet those needs now and into the future. This recognition is testament to everyone who has worked together to bring the development to life.”

The development has brought together partners from across housing, construction, design and local government to deliver 92 new later living homes for Lancaster.

St Martin’s Court forms part of Progress Housing Group’s wider commitment to investing in new and existing homes and providing a range of housing options that meet the changing needs of communities.

The development has been designed to provide tenants with their own modern home alongside communal spaces and facilities that encourage connection and help create a strong sense of community.

Its completion represents a significant investment in housing for older people in Lancaster and supports the need for more homes that enable people to remain independent as they get older.

St Martin’s Court has been shortlisted in the Best Later Living Development category at the Inside Housing Development Awards, which celebrate outstanding developments, partnerships and teams across the UK housing sector.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on November 24 in London.