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Frank Bretton House in Ongar gets a fresh look, the first of our sheltered housing properties to be refurbished in a pilot scheme.
Frank Bretton House
Watch the transformation in a short film made by our Older People team.
First of its kind
Frank Bretton House in Ongar was due to be redecorated and chosen as the first of our sheltered housing schemes for this first of its kind refurbishment.
Our officers worked with Buckingham Interiors who are part of registered social enterprise and charity Furniture Resource Centre (FRC) Group.
Residents chose the colour schemes, furniture, carpets and fabrics that were used throughout the home.
It is the first of its kind in a pilot scheme we are undertaking. We aim to identify interior design standards for communal areas to help meet the aspirations and expectations of our growing older population, making best use of our housing stock.
Modern and welcoming
At an open afternoon on Tuesday 21 June, Frank Bretton House residents, Epping Forest District Council Chairman Councillor Mary Sartin, Cabinet member for Housing and Community Councillor Holly Whitbread, local councillors and housing officers saw for themselves the transformation of the scheme.
Chairman Mary Sartin said:
A lot of hard work has gone into this project, and it’s lovely to have seen the changes first-hand.
The project had a lot of input from many different teams across the council. It’s thanks for them and the FRC Group that the residents can enjoy the newly refurbished communal areas at Frank Bretton House.
Councillor Holly Whitbread said:
It is wonderful to see the changes that have been made.
This is a fantastic start to the regeneration of our sheltered housing. The enhancement of our sheltered schemes is at the very heart of the regeneration of our council stock.
It is important they are modern and welcoming, a place where people want to live as they get older and a more attractive option to those who wish to downsize.
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