EDEN Housing Association has welcomed the addition of a building which will be transformed into homes for the community.

Complete with 19 new apartments, the organisation has been handed the Mill Gardens building in Kirkby Stephen which is part of the multimillion pound Extra Care Scheme.

“The apartments are well thought out with plenty of space," said Carolyn Greenhalgh, EHA assistant director. "Heather Tarney from Eden Country Care was impressed with the layout of the wet rooms which have great facilities.

"It’s this attention to detail that will really benefit residents, helping them stay independent in their own homes.”

Now the building is complete, the staff will be in testing and training and the finishing touches to landscaping and carparks are being done - ready for moving the new residents in in mid April.

The corridors on each floor are painted a different colour and have co-ordinated carpets, created to make it easy to navigate around the place - something that will benefit those with dementia.

At lease three of the new residents are more than 90 years old.