Rebecca and Shane Oliver are thrilled with their new adapted rental home in Penzance.
Originally living in a LiveWest home in the Treneere part of the town, Shane’s sight impairment meant that the couple needed a modified home to meet his needs.
So we offered to make a number of adaptions to a home in a new community in Penzance by adding new inside and outside lighting and disabled rails.
The modifications have made a huge different to Shane’s life and he couldn’t be happier.
Shane, 45, said: “I am severely sight impaired so to have an open plan house, which is easy for me to get around, is just fantastic.
“The house we were in before had steps everywhere and narrow doorways and staircasing, so it was becoming more of a struggle.
“Now I have got a home with rails, new lighting in the alleyway so I can put the bins out and also new lighting in the kitchen which means I can still do the cooking. It means I can remain independent which is lovely for me.
“This is a great community close to schools., the town, bus links and a medical centre, it is just superb.
“LiveWest have been very good to us and have really helped us. They are always on the end of the phone and very courteous and supportive. I would rate LiveWest 10 out of 10.”
Rebecca is particularly pleased that the new modifications mean the home provides a safe and secure environment for her husband.
Rebecca, 47, said: “Our new home makes it a lot safer for my husband, he is happier living here now and it is all good.
“It is a lovely community. We have lots of new friends and the social side of things is great.
“The homes are really warm, they are well insulated and really spacious downstairs.”
Penzance St Clare, is the last development in the Homes for Cornwall initiative and has entered the final stages of construction.
Originally, 38 of the 127 homes planned for the site were set to be affordable homes, however with additional grant funding from Cornwall Council and Homes England, which along with additional subsidy from LiveWest enabled an additional 15 homes to be provided as affordable homes.
The development has 28 rental and 17 shared ownership homes – with a further eight acquired by Cornwall Council as assisted living homes for adults with learning disabilities.
And of the 28 rental homes, 26 of those went to people with a primary local connection to Penzance St Clare.
Rebecca added: “Affordable housing is really important, especially given the relative low wages in this area.
“There are so many local people that don’t particularly want to move away or want to stay in the area who have lived here all their lives.
“So this is perfect and suits the needs of people in the area. It has been a huge success.”