Work begins at 1 Ledbury Road in Hereford

Work on new long-term living accommodation in Hereford for young people with disabilities and learning difficulties is due to begin at the end of the month.

National Star, the charity which bought 1 Ledbury Road, has announced that major refurbishment to the existing bungalows should be completed by late October.

The £680,000 contract was won by Barnwood General Works,  part of the Barnwood Construction Group.

‘There is a great deal of work to do to ensure the bungalows are to National Star standards as they will be the long-term home for seven young people,’ said John Mann, Head of National Star at Hereford.

‘We look forward to our new partnership with Barnwood General Works. Our combined efforts will help transform the lives of young people with disabilities who often face living in care homes with people who are more than three times their age.’

In February the charity, which has been based in Hereford for five years, announced it had purchased 1 Ledbury Road from the Wye Valley NHS Trust.

‘We recognise the importance of the work that National Star undertakes and the value it creates for the young people,’ said Guy Cook, Director of Barnwood General Works, based in Gloucester.

‘We are looking forward to working in collaboration with the charity and are delighted to be included in a project to support young people with disabilities who already face difficult challenges.’

National Star is raising £2.2 million to buy and convert the property. The main building, which was once a vicarage, will be converted into an education facility that includes therapies and personal development. Work on the main building will take place after the bungalows are completed.

Currently 17 young people access National Star’s specialist day support, based in Harrow Road.

The new long-term living accommodation will create up to 40 new jobs. National Star is staging a Staff Recruitment Open Day on Monday 3 June from 2pm to 7pm at The Kindle Centre, Belmont Rd, Hereford HR2 7JE.