An official opening ceremony has been held for 11 new ‘Stepping Stone’ apartments for people with various levels of learning difficulties.

The Elmhirst Court apartments at at Brimhay, Dartington, which are owned and managed by South Devon Rural Housing Association (SDR), were completed in the summer of 2021.

The original opening was postponed due to Covid restrictions.

The first tenants are now well established in their new homes, which for many are offering the first taste of independent living.

To celebrate, Dartington district and county councillor, Jacqi Hodgson, cut the ribbon to ‘officially’ open the new apartments.

Cllr Hodgson, said: “The ‘Stepping Stone’ apartments at Elmhirst Court are a real boost for meeting a wider range of housing needs for our community. These 11 new homes mean we can now offer more local people the chance to live independently and confidently in bright and comfortable accommodation”.

The project forms part of SDR’s Brimhay Development Scheme and is a collaboration with Devon County Council (DCC) and South Hams District Council (SHDC).

Elmhirst Court was funded by a £400,000 grant from Homes England and the sale of market-value homes on the Brimhay Gardens development, with the surplus gift-aided back through SDR’s development arm, Rural Homes Ltd.

Construction work took around 18 months, with some delays caused by lockdowns and supply problems associated with the pandemic.

The building was formally handed over by Totnes contractors Coyde Construction in July and the first set of tenants for the new apartments were allocated in August.

The apartments were named Elmhirst Court in honour of the Elmhirst family who founded the Dartington Hall Trust.

As the flats neared completion, SDR worked with DCC’s Locality team to identify and shortlist the first set of tenants, many of whom took part in the opening ceremony celebrations.

Elmhirst Court ( )

SDR’s chief executive Christine Candlish said: “We felt it appropriate to give our new project a name reflecting and sustaining all that’s been good about the area for the past century since Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst purchased the neglected 14th century Dartington estate in 1925.

“These fantastic homes are providing tenants with a safe, secure place to live. For many this is their first taste of independent living, away from families, offering a chance to develop and grow in confidence. They continue to be supported by their care teams as they adapt to a different lifestyle”.

She added: “The range of properties that make up our soon-to-be-completed Brimhay Project symbolises the broad spectrum of ages and needs that South Devon Rural aims to cater for going forward.

“Our mission is to continue delivering genuinely affordable housing in the South West for clients with a wide range of ages and needs. Providing this type of home in a village setting is vital in enabling local people to stay close to family and friends and to feel part of their local community”.

Devon County Councillor James McInnes, responsible for adult social care, said: “Elmhirst Court is a great example of the difference partnership working can make.

“Homes are a critical foundation in all our lives and for people with a learning disability the range of options to live as independently as possible is often limited.

“Elmhirst Court is helping to address this inequality and we are delighted by the positive response of the first tenants as they take their first step towards a life of greater independence and connection in this new development".

SHDC leader, Cllr Judy Pearce, who is lead member for housing, added: I’m so proud we’ve been a part of this much needed project. Together we’ve made sure more local people can access a safe and comfortable home that truly meets their individual needs without having to move far from friends and family.

“It’s great to be able to celebrate at this official opening and see first-hand how our commitment to delivering the homes that local people need can really make a difference”.