Exeter charities join forces to provide temporary housing during Almshouses refurbishment

Exeter Homes Trust has announced it is teaming up with The St Petrock And Heavitree Parish Lands Charity to offer its residents temporary housing, during the £2.8 million refurbishment of the historic Atwill Palmer Almshouses 

The 180-year-old Victorian buildings, in New North Road, contain 24 one-bedroom units arranged over 2 floors. The sympathetic remodelling of the Grade II listed properties will provide residents with updated and energy efficient apartments, more suited to modern day living requirements 

Exeter Homes Trust (EHT) provides accommodation to local people in housing need, aged over 55, capable of independent living. The charity’s property portfolio consists of 143 apartments, in 8 different locations across Exeter. 

Following a thorough consultation, with Residents, planners, and the Heritage Office at Exeter City Council, the 24-month programme of work is due to start at the beginning of March. As a result, Exeter Homes Trust has been endeavouring to find alternative accommodation for Atwill Palmer residents to move to during the works. 

Thankfully, St Petrock And Heavitree Parish Lands Charity has offered EHT residents the use of 22 brand-new high-quality apartments in the Whipton area of the city. Chairman of the Charity’s Directors board, Alan Wiliamson, comments:

“We are delighted to be teaming up with The St Petrock And Heavitree Parish Lands Charity and are really grateful for their support. 

“We know them well and have similar goals and values, so we welcome the collaboration between our two charities.” 

In addition, to providing temporary accommodation, EHT will be covering the costs of residents’ removal expenses and will be on hand to help out with packing and storage.

The project will be part funded by Homes England grant and, when work is completed, the remodelled Almshouses will enjoy modern energy efficiency measures, gas-fired central heating, new kitchens and modern shower-rooms. The apartments will also benefit from new wiring and redecoration throughout, with extensions making the properties larger and more functional in design.

The outside areas are also set to get a new lease of life, with enhanced landscaping providing new terraces and flowerbeds, and the creation of a community room for residents to meet up and socialise. 

Mike Henderson, Chairman of The St Petrock And Heavitree Parish Lands Charity,comments:

“We are delighted with our new scheme at Whipton and the fact that its completion ties in so neatly with the immediate requirements of the Atwill Palmer residents is a particularly happy coincidence.

“I suspect that such close cooperation between two local like-minded charities may very well be a unique occurrence and a measure of what working together can achieve.”