Agent offers key to independence

Advised by local property specialist Preston Bennett, Jewish Blind & Disabled has won planning consent for its new building after a six-year search for a site. Pictured far right (from left) are Preston Bennett chairman Ronnie Preston, JBD chief executive Hazel Kaye and Village Homes directors Warren Rosenberg and Mervyn Graver, in front of what will be the entrance to the Bushey complex.

"Because of our considerable contacts in the business," says Mr Preston, "we were aware that a quality local developer, Village Homes, had been trying to develop a site in Bushey, but had been unsuccessful after a number of planning submissions. We are in the business of putting people together and in this case it seemed that there was a possibility of Village Homes and Jewish Blind & Disabled reaching a satisfactory agreement. It seemed a perfect solution."

To be built by Village Homes, the new facility is due to open mid-2012. There will be 41 apartments - 39 one-bedroom mobility apartments for physically disabled or vision impaired people of all ages, plus two apartments for the full-time on-site house managers. There will also be a guest suite for visiting family or friends, as well as welcoming communal areas, landscaped gardens with raised sensory area and roof terrace.

Ms Kaye says: "We are delighted that we have already raised the fantastic sum of £7.6 million toward this project at Bushey but obviously we still need to raise another £3 million. Thanks to the foresight, professionalism and expertise of Preston Bennett and Village Homes, this development will increase our projects to seven purpose-built complexes. This means we will soon be able to give a total of 359 tenants their own personal key to independence."