bpha has transformed two outdated sites in Bedford into a range of flats and houses available to rent, and the first residents have now moved in.

St Leonards Court, off Ampthill Road, offers 12 one and two bedroom flats, along with 5 four bedroom houses. Nearby, Grosvenor Court at The Avenue provides 18 one and two bedroom flats and 4 four bedroom houses, some of which are specifically available to people with learning difficulties.

Tracey Barrett, Assistant Development Director at bpha said: “St Leonards and Grosvenor Courts were built on the sites of the original St Leonards Court  and Grosvenor Court, both housing schemes for older people. The schemes had become no longer suitable as many of the flats were inadequate in terms of size and mobility access for the needs of older residents. The decision was made to move the existing residents into larger and more comfortable properties, and to completely redevelop the sites into brand new flats and houses over 18 months.

“The result is two highly-desirable housing developments which will hopefully ease the housing demand for the Bedford area, where four bedroom houses in particular can be hard to come by.”

Part funded by the Housing and Communities Association (HCA), both sites are in a good location close to Bedford Town Centre, on major bus routes and with many shops and schools nearby.

At Grosvenor Court, bpha is offering independent living for people with learning disabilities. This supports the Valuing People programme and offers a wider choice of options to people who have had limited housing choices in the past.