Mum's life '˜transformed' by new Hartlepool home

Trish Buck, 54, was forced to live upstairs in her last home, when a series of serious back operations left her unable to manage the stairs, meaning she was often stuck in her home.

She has now moved into a bungalow with husband Mark on the new Raby Gardens housing development which has drastically improved her quality of life.

As a bonus for Trish, her daughter Samantha Francis, 26, her partner Gary Wilkinson and their son Oliver, six, have moved into another of the 33 properties on the estate, only a few doors away.

It means Mark can be involved in Oliver’s life, looking after him in the school holidays and doing the ‘school run’ when Gary and Samantha are at work.

Trish said: “It is no exaggeration to say that my life has been transformed since moving to Raby Gardens. I feel very lucky to have the new bungalow and am loving living here. Having Samantha and her family so close by is fantastic and we’ve all settled in really well.”

Samantha and Gary have previously had some bad renting experiences in the private sector, but are now happily settled in their three-bedroom house.

Raby Gardens was developed by Housing Hartlepool, a partner in the Thirteen Group.

Martin Hawthorne, director of development and regeneration for Thirteen, the parent company of Housing Hartlepool, said: “Raby Gardens is a lovely development providing much-needed affordable, quality housing in the Tees Valley. We’re thrilled that it has made such a difference to the lives of Trish and her family and hope all the residents will become a real community.”

Raby Gardens is made up of six bungalows, six three bedroom homes and 21 two bedroom homes, with one for shared ownership and the rest for affordable rent. The two bedroom homes, which have been exclusively designed for Thirteen, incorporate a dining kitchen, lounge, ground floor toilet and a family bathroom on the first floor.