The Queen’s cousin comes to Brighton tomorrow (Thursday) to open a block of retirement flats.
The Duke of Gloucester is due to open Patching Lodge between Park Street and Freshfield Road in the Queen’s Park area of Brighton at about midday.
The £13.6 million scheme contains 76 one or two-bedroom flats in a seven-storey block. Nine of the 76 flats are fully wheelchair accessible. All include a modern fitted kitchen and level-access shower.
The flats replace 34 old bedsits which were in need of a major overhaul and where residents had to share bathrooms.
Patching Lodge is managed by Hanover, one of Britain’s biggest specialist providers of retirement housing and related support services for old people, in partnership with Brighton and Hove City Council.
The aim of Patching Lodge is to provide housing for independent older people who may need regular help and support.
Hanover director Claire Anderson said: “Older people have increasingly high expectations when it comes to housing.
“Hanover understands that and offers older people maximum choice that enables them to live independently.”
Hanover residents Henry and Violet Hayden decided to move to Patching Lodge after Henry became wheelchair-bound after suffering a stroke last December.
Violet said: “I knew we had to move after Henry’s stroke. Our old house just wasn’t suitable anymore.
“Our flat’s lovely and Henry receives brilliant care from the on-site care team.
“I also love the on-site hairdressing and reflexology service.
“We’re extremely happy here, and have made many friends.”
Councillor Mary Mears, the leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “Patching Lodge has become the benchmark for new housing in the city. It’s proved very popular among the residents and is allowing our older people to live as independently as they want to yet with back up care should it be needed.”
Among those attending the formal opening will be the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Peter Field, the High Sheriff of East Sussex, Bill Shelford, the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, Cllr Ann Norman, the new chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, John Barradell, the Chief Constable of Sussex, Martin Richards, the MP for Brighton Kemptown, Des Turner, and Lord Best, the chairman of Hanover Housing Association.
