Wigan Council’s new apartments are now open in an Extra Care facility built on the site of a former school on Miles Lane in Shevington.
Local councillors Michael Crosby, Vicky Galligan and Paul Collins were updated on the development throughout and have been keeping in touch with the community. They have discussed at length the facility and the need for Shevington Community Primary to be remembered in the facility, which comprises of 32 accessible apartments.
Councillor Vicky Galligan said: “We didn’t want to lose a school in our ward in 2016 – in fact I wasn’t a councillor at the time and I started a petition against the closure, which the ward councillors backed.
“But the decision was made y the council to demolish the old building – which would have needed a lot of expensive work to bring it up to date to modern standards – and replace it with something for the 21st century.
“And the one thing we were missing in our ward was this type of sheltered housing, where staff and carers are on site and people can come together in a communal space for some meals, events and parties.
“We were kept in close contact with the Project Manager from the Wigan Council’s New Build Team, Peter Collins. He really engaged with the community and listened to what people wanted and needed.
“The result is first-class housing for Shevington and even better, it’s social housing – it is cheaper to rent here than a private-rented new build and the council manages the site fully, so if there are any issues they will get sorted quickly.”
Some of the facility’s features include:
– 32 one and two bed accessible apartments for social rent for over 55s or people with high needs
– Owned and managed by Wigan Council
– Two are wheelchair adapted apartments
– All apartments have their own spacious shower room, kitchen area open plan to living room, and bedroom
– Parking facilities including EV charging points
– Barriered gate and cctv with full security system to ensure privacy and safety for residents
– Charging store for mobility scooters near the entrance
– Communal space with kitchen for meeting with family, events etc
– Cosy reading/games room
– Large outdoor patio area including raised beds made from bricks reclaimed from old school building
– Eco credentials include roof panels, ground source heating and extra-thick walls – which will also keep bills low
– Meeting room for resident and staff
– Shared bathroom with hoist for residents to use with carers
– Staff room for carers and other workers
– 24/7 staffing with services including wake-up calls included in rent
– Extra care packages available which the residents pay for
– Views over Shevington towards Appley Bridge at the back and Roby Mill to the front
– Two lifts and stairwells to upper floor
– Historical prints of photos and documents from the old school
– Raised beds made from reclaimed bricks from Shevington Community Primary School
– New road named Gray Lane after the late Mr Neville Gray, a much-loved teacher at the school
– Next door to doctor’s surgery
– Bee Network bus stop right outside to Shevington, Appley Bridge and Wigan
If you have any questions about Meadow View Court, please contact councillors or email: sheltered@wigan.gov.uk
