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Development Number Eight

17 March 2020

We are delighted to announce that, after years of looking for our next development, we have just purchased a building which will take our current number of developments to eight.

The development located on the corner of Bittacy Hill and Langstone Way in Mill Hill East is currently home to a block of 24 apartments built belonging to IBSA (The International Bible Students Association).

We plan not only to transform the interior of the building but also, to extend it to create 30 state-of-the-art one-bedroom mobility apartments for Jewish people from the age of 18 upwards who have physical disabilities or impaired vision.

Each of the 30 apartments will be built to our recognised highest standard. The apartments will be designed to meet the needs of people with physically disabilities or impaired vision using latest technology and equipment, with accessible modern fitted kitchens and walk in shower rooms spacious enough to accommodate wheelchairs. There will be communal laundry facilities, with accessible machines, a communal lounge, small garden and roof terrace. There is ample tenants parking enabling those who drive to be able to retain this aspect of their independence.

We have been looking for a new development opportunity for several years during which time we have raised sufficient capital to pay for this new building. We are now looking to raise £6m from across the community to complete our ambitions plans for the property.

Commenting on this new development, Jewish Blind & Disabled chairman John Joseph said “I am absolutely delighted that we have secured this development opportunity. Over this past year with the opening of the Dyna and Fala Weinstock Wing at Cecil Rosen Court we have managed to reduce our waiting list but we still do not have enough apartments to meet current need. Number eight, as its currently known, will go a long way to ensuring we can meet current and future demand from within the community.”

The organisation aims to have secured planning and to have appointed contractors by the end of the year with works beginning in early 2021. The works will take around 18 months to complete so with current plans Jewish Blind & Disabled hope to welcome the first tenants into this new development in 2023.

Chief Executive Lisa Wimborne remarked “The purchase of number eight is exciting news and will ensure we can support more individuals and families in need of our unique offering. However, the purchase is just the starting point. This month we will launch a multi-million-pound fundraising project to support our new development. We are also beginning to work on detailed plans for the development prior to seeking planning permission. It will be several years until we welcome new tenants into this development. Alongside our new development we are also committed to continue to invest in our existing buildings to ensure they are well maintained, bright, modern environments that meet the needs of both current and future tenants”

We are dedicating our Pesach appeal this year to raising the funds needed to transform this building into a development designed to enable those who have no other organisation to whom they can turn to live with the independence, dignity and choice that are so easy to take for granted until they are suddenly taken away.

For further information, please email natasha@jbd.org.

Find out more about Jewish Blind & Disabled