AN INNOVATIVE new housing project in Okehampton was officially opened this week — the first of its type to be built in the county.

Castle Ham Lodge, a major redevelopment of the former Castle Hospital site, was opened on Monday by Okehampton's Devon County Cllr Christine Marsh, a long-time advocate of the project, and resident Valentine Stacey. Valentine cut the ribbon with Cllr Marsh unveiling a plaque to commemorate the day.

It is the first development to be built under the Devon County Council's commissioning strategy for extra-care housing —the county council has given £500,000 to the Castle Ham Lodge scheme.

The redevelopment, carried out by the Guinness Partnership, provides a new extra care housing comprising 50 purpose-built flats primarily for older people.

The build also provides additional facilities for the community, including a hairdresser's, consultation rooms, café, gardens, courtyard and three multi-purpose activity rooms.

Cllr Marsh said: 'I am delighted that this wonderful facility in Okehampton is now open, and that it will provide people with the opportunity to live as independently as possible while having access to care. 

'The opening is the culmination of a lot of hard work, and Devon County Council is pleased to have been involved.'

The project has taken a long time to reach this stage, with planning permission granted in March 2008 following a long planning process. Building started on March 25 that year, but when the original developers went into administration, Mi-Space (UK) stepped in to finish the work.

The build was completed last November, with the first residents moving in a month later.

Cllr Stuart Barker, the council's cabinet member responsible for social care said: 'Extra care housing is a real alternative to residential care. With care available as and when people need it, schemes like this are giving people from across Devon more choice about their care, while they can continue to live as independently as possible in their own homes for longer.

'This scheme is just one of a number of extra care housing facilities that we are working on with developers to deliver in Devon.'

Mary Chivers, from Guinness Hermitage, said: 'The first months here have been a great success.

'Like most things it has taken time, but residents have gradually been moved in since December with the place now pretty much full, and with the start of the activity groups and communal projects, things have gone very well.'

Stephen Lodge, Guinness Hermitage development director said: 'I must say I always enjoy these days, but when here you don't see the pain and hard work that goes into getting these projects off the ground.

'Castle Ham Lodge is a shining example of how housing associations and local authorities can work together.

'We have forged a strong partnership with Devon County Council which allowed us to plan, design and deliver the high quality homes at Castle Ham Lodge.'

The development stands on the site of the original parish workhouse, built in 1836. People too poor, old, or ill to support themselves often ended up in such workhouses, as did unmarried pregnant women.

The workhouse would have been run by a master and matron, with operations overseen by an elected board of guardians.

After 1930 the former workhouse was taken over by Devon County Council and became a public assistance institution. It became the Castle Hospital in 1948, and was latterly used for geriatric care. It remained open until 2004, following the opening of Okehampton Community Hospital.

Also attending the official opening of Castle Ham Lodge were the leader of Devon County Council John Hart, Cllr James McInnes and other council members, staff from Guinness Hermitage and the Guinness Partnership, , residents and staff from Castle Ham Lodge, residents of Okehampton and representatives from the architects and various organisations involved in the project.

The project has been delivered with support from the Homes and Communities Agency, West Devon Borough Council and Devon County Council.

The build was designed and constructed in partnership with Mi-Space (UK) Ltd, Quattro Design Architects Ltd and WT Hills Ltd. Support was also received from Okehampton Town Council and West Devon Homes.

The Guinness Partnership owns and manages almost 60,000 homes, employs more than 3,000 members of staff and provides services for over 120,000 customers nationwide.

Extra care schemes like Castle Ham Lodge offer a safe environment that give elderly residents access to on-site care and support services 24 hours a day seven days a week.