Great Yarmouth Borough Council owns many different types of properties which it allocates to those people in housing need who are on the Housing Register or Transfer List.
Sheltered housing schemes meet a particular type of housing need and as such, those properties are allocated to older people who may need some degree of support.
What is Sheltered Housing?
A sheltered housing tenancy is the same as an ordinary Council tenancy. The difference is that there is an emergency alarm system installed in each property and a warden is available to give assistance.
There are two types of sheltered housing schemes – resident schemes and neighbourhood schemes.
A resident scheme has its own dedicated warden who lives on site or close by.
A neighbourhood scheme covers a wider area and is supported by a neighbourhood warden.
What do Wardens do?
Wardens are responsible for enabling every tenant to live as independently as possible. When
on duty wardens provide help if required and answer any emergency calls which may arise.
Where a scheme has a communal room, wardens encourage and work with tenants to organise events and activities.
Wardens need to be available for all tenants in sheltered housing. This means that they are unable to carry out certain tasks, such as cleaning, cooking or shopping. Neither are they able to perform nursing duties such as giving injections, or drugs or changing dressings. However if a tenant has this type of problem, wardens can act as intermediaries with organisations such as Social Services or Health to alert them to the fact a tenant needs their assistance.
If a tenant needs a particular service, such as a regular visit from a home carer or community nurse, the warden will try to ensure that the service is provided.
Yare Care
When a warden is away from their scheme, emergencies are dealt with by the Yare Care control centre. Pull cords are located around the property and a pendant is provided. These can be used to contact the staff at the control centre in an emergency, who will if necessary send another neighbouring warden. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and are used to dealing with all kinds of problems.
Who can move into sheltered housing?
Sheltered housing caters for a whole range of older people. You do not necessarily have to have a health problem or disability to move into sheltered housing. If you are not sure whether sheltered housing is appropriate for you, please contact the Council's Lettings Section for further information or advice. Both the Council and Housing Associations in the borough also provide other accommodation suitable for older people, but without warden support.
How to apply
If you are a council tenant you will need to contact your estate manager. If you are living in your own home or in privately rented accommodation you should contact the Lettings Section.
Sheltered schemes in the Borough
The Resident Schemes - Grove Close, Martham
Grove Close is situated in the village of Martham, which is approximately nine miles north of Great Yarmouth. The village has many facilities, including shops, a Post Office, pharmacy and doctors' surgery. There is a regular bus service into Great Yarmouth.
There are 43 properties on the scheme, which includes 33 one-bedroom bungalows, four two-bedroom bungalows and six one-bedroom flats.
There is a communal room on site, which is used most days for activities such as bingo, cards and coffee mornings. There is also a communal laundry attached to the communal room, which tenants are able to use on a rota basis.
St. Mary's Close, Hemsby
St. Mary's Close is situated in the village of Hemsby, which is approximately seven miles north of Great Yarmouth. The village has a number of facilities including shops, a Post Office, pharmacy and a medical centre.
There are 39 properties on this scheme, which includes 24 one-bedroom bungalows and 15 two-bedroom bungalows. There is a communal room on site which is used most days for bingo or cards. There is a communal laundry attached to the communal room, which tenants are able to use on a rota basis.
Wherry Way, Great Yarmouth
Wherry Way is situated in the north part of the town, approximately 1 ½ miles from the town centre. There is a bus stop on the main road where buses can be caught into town. There are local shops and a Post Office nearby.
There are 45 bed-recess bungalows on this scheme. The bungalows are in the process of being modernised, but this will take some time as the improvements include extensions to the original dwelling. All the bungalows are part of a district heating system which means a weekly charge for heating is payable along with the rent. There are two laundry rooms on site which are used by tenants on a rota basis, and a communal room which is used by tenants for a range of activities, including bingo and board games.
Frank Stone Court and Harry Miller Court, Great Yarmouth
Frank Stone Court and Harry Miller Court are situated in the south part of the town.
Frank Stone Court is situated off Dickens Avenue. There are 32 one-bedroom ground floor and first floor flats. There is a lift to the first floor. Access to the flats is by door entry controlled by the tenants. There are internal streets which are lit and heated. The communal room is part of the complex and can be accessed without needing to go outside.
Harry Miller Court is situated off Ordnance Road. There are 12 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats. There is a lift to the first floor. Access to the flats is via a door entry system and all flats look out onto a communal garden with seating. There is a communal room which is part of the complex.
Southtown, Beccles Road, Gorleston
Southtown is situated between Beccles Road and Suffolk Road. The nearest town to the scheme for shopping is Gorleston. However, there is a main bus route close by, from where buses can be caught into Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft.
There are 36 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats without lift access, and 18 one-bedroom bungalows. There is a communal room which is used by tenants for a range of activities including bingo, coffee mornings and jumble sales.
Da'Volls Court, Gorleston
Da'Volls Court is situated off Church Road in Gorleston. It is close to the main shopping area in Gorleston and there is also a medical centre nearby.
There are 62 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats with lift access. The flats are part of a complex which includes family type dwellings. The majority of the flats are set round a central courtyard and access to the complex is controlled by door entry gates. There is a communal room which tenants use for a range of activities and a laundry which can be used on a rota basis.
Cherry Road, Gorleston
Cherry Road is situated on the Shrublands Estate in Gorleston. There are a few local shops on the estate, including a Post Office. There is a bus stop nearby where buses can be caught into Gorleston or Great Yarmouth town centres.
There are 16 one-bedroom, ground and first floor flats, 11 two-bedroom ground and first floor flats, and 17 bed-recess bungalows. There is controlled access to the area through a gate which tenants are able to open from their dwellings. There is a communal room which tenants use for a range of activities.
A programme of refurbishment and modernisation has recently started on this scheme.
The Close, Bradwell
The Close is situated off Crab Lane on the boundary of Gorleston and Bradwell. There are 10 one-bedroom ground floor flats, and 25 one-bedroom bungalows. There is a communal room which is used by tenants for various activities including coffee mornings, fish and chip suppers and bingo. There is also a laundry room which can be used on a rota basis.
The Neighbourhood Schemes - Nelson Court, Charles Court, Braddock Road, Beatty Close and Keyes Close
This neighbourhood scheme includes five sites:
1. Nelson Court, Caister
2. Charles Court, Caister
3. Braddock Road, Caister
These three sites are situated in the village of Caister, approximately two miles north of Great Yarmouth. The village has many facilities including local shops, a pharmacy and a medical centre.
The Nelson Court site has 18 one-bedroom bungalows, situated around a communal garden. There is a communal room which tenants use for a range of activities and a laundry which can be used on a rota basis.
The Charles Court and Braddock Road site comprises 19 one-bedroom bungalows, 6 two-bedroom bungalows and 15 one-bedroom ground floor flats. The bungalows have private gardens.
4. Beatty Close
5. Keyes Close
Both sites are situated in the north of Great Yarmouth about 1 ½ miles from the town centre. There are local shops nearby and there is a regular bus service to the town centre.
The Beatty Close site has 30 two-bedroom bungalows, 10 bed-recess bungalows and 6 one-bedroom ground floor flats. The bungalows have private front gardens and communal rear gardens.
The Keyes Close site has 10 one-bedroom bungalows situated in a quiet cul-de-sac.
Hawkins Close and Grenville Place, Great Yarmouth
This neighbourhood scheme includes two sites. Both sites are situated in the north of Great Yarmouth about 1 ½ miles from the town centre.
The Hawkins Close site comprises 19 one-bedroom bungalows and 25 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats. There is a communal room which is used for a range of activities including bingo and coffee mornings. There is also a small library in the communal room. There is a laundry room attached to the communal room which tenants can use on a rota basis.
The Grenville Place site comprises 51 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats situated in a quiet cul-de-sac off Beatty Road. All the flats are part of a district heating system which means a weekly charge for heating is payable along with the rent. There is a communal room which is used for a variety of activities and a laundry facility which can be used by tenants on a rota basis.
Maygrove, Great Yarmouth
This neighbourhood scheme includes three sites.
1.Ferrier Close, Frederick Road, Northgate Street, West Road
This site is situated off Northgate Street, close to the town centre.
Ferrier Close has 6 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats. Frederick Road has 8 one-bedroom bungalows and 4 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats. Northgate Street has 1 one-bedroom bungalow and 2 one-bedroom ground floor and 2 one-bedroom first floor flats. West Road has 5 one-bedroom bungalows. Frederick Road, Northgate Street and West Road have access to a quiet communal garden.
2. Midland Close
This site is situated off North Denes Road. There are 13 one-bedroom bungalows with private gardens.
3. Caister Road
This site is on Wherry Way. There are 16 one-bedroom ground and first floor flats. The tenants are able to participate in the communal activities on Wherry Way. There is a laundry facility which tenants can use on a rote basis.
South Gorleston
This neighbourhood scheme consists of two sites.
1. Crowhall Green
This site is situated off Pound Lane. There are 21 one-bedroom bungalows with communal front gardens and private gardens to the rear. There is a communal room which offers a variety of activities for tenants.
2. Newton Cross
This site is on the Cliff Park Estate. There are 13 one-bedroom bungalows and 8 two-bedroom bungalows with private gardens.
Ecclestone Close, Gorleston
This scheme combines the qualities of a neighbourhood and resident scheme. It consists of Ecclestone Close, Bunnewell Avenue and Leach Close. It is situated on the Magdalen College Estate off Oriel Avenue in a quiet location. There are 40 one-bedroom bungalows, and 28 two-bedroom bungalows. There is a communal room with an active tenants' committee which works with the warden to organise a range of activities. There is a laundry facility which tenants can use on a rota basis.
Charter Close, Sheldonian Court and Windsor Way
This scheme combines the qualities of a neighbourhood and resident scheme. It comprises three sites.
1. Charter Close
This site is situated on the Magdalen College Estate, close to the local shops and Post Office. There are 25 bed-recess bungalows set in communal gardens. There is a communal room which offers a range of activities. There is a laundry facility which tenants can use on a rota basis.
2. Sheldonian Court
This site is situated off Oriel Avenue. There are 20 one-bedroom bungalows, 6 two-bedroom bungalows and 1 three-bedroom bungalow. There is a communal room on Ecclestone Close which offers a range of activities. There is also a laundry facility on Ecclestone Close.
3. Windsor Way
This small site is situated at the rear of Shrublands Way behind the shops. There are 3 bed-recess bungalows and 5 one-bedroom ground floor flats.
Rambouillet Close and Seawake Close, Gorleston
This scheme combines the qualities of a resident and neighbourhood scheme. It is situated off Trinity Avenue, Gorleston. It is near to a main bus route and about five minutes from the local shops and Post Office. There are 57 one-bedroom bungalows and 18 two-bedroom bungalows. There is a communal room which offers a variety of activities for tenants. There is a regular chiropody clinic in the communal room.
Bradwell and Belton
This neighbourhood scheme comprises two sites located in the village of Bradwell and Belton.
1. Bradwell
Bradwell is approximately four miles west of Great Yarmouth. The village has many facilities including shops, a Post Office and medical centre. This site comprises property on St. Nicholas' Gardens, Green Lane and Church Walk. There are 24 one-bedroom bungalows.
2. Belton
Belton is approximately seven miles south of Great Yarmouth. There are local shops and a doctors' surgery in the village. This site comprises property on Berry Close and Dashwood Close. There are 38 one-bedroom bungalows and 6 two-bedroom bungalows.
Sheltered Housing for frail older people
There are two schemes for frail older people in the borough, one at St. Augustine's Place, Addison Road, Gorleston and the other at the Lawns, Caister Road, Great Yarmouth.
St. Augustine's, Addison Road is a joint scheme between Orbit Housing Association, Social Services and the Council. It includes council bungalows as well as a complex of flats owned by Orbit Housing Association. Social Services staff are on site and are able to provide a greater degree of support for those assessed as eligible for this of scheme. For information contact the Lettings Officer.
The Lawns provides similar levels of support but all the accommodation is provided by Broadland Housing Association.
For information about The Lawns please ring (01603) 750200.
Housing Associations and Sheltered Housing Schemes
The Council works closely with Housing Associations some of which have sheltered housing schemes in the borough. The Council can nominate you for these schemes or you can apply direct to the Housing Association.
Further information is contained in the Housing Association booklet available from the Lettings Section.
Useful telephone numbers here:
The Lettings Section - (01493) 846282 / (01493) 846379
Housing Services for the Elderly - Yare Care Enquiries - (01493) 852784 / (01493) 330369
Estate Management
South Quay - (01493) 846490
South Yarmouth - (01493) 857937
Gorleston - (01493) 440446
You can also contact us online by completing the form below:
Form - Contact