Last updated at 15:10, Friday, 22 June 2012

TAMMY Robinson feels like she has been given a second chance at life since moving into affordable housing in Ormsgill last week.

HAPPY FAMILY: the Robinson family who have moved into the new Accent home in Bradford Street Barrow. The family formerly lived in Barrow town centre (l-r) From left: David, Tammy, Marcus and Gemma MILTON HAWORTH REF: 50035166B000

A debilitating back injury suffered during the birth of her second child 17 years ago left Mrs Robinson in constant agony and struggling to walk.

But after years of being tormented by a set of stairs in her old home that kept her largely confined to a tiny room, she is now enjoying the sort of freedom she has dreamed of for so long.

Mrs Robinson, her husband David and children Gemma, 20, and Marcus, 17, were among the first residents to move into one of 16 brand new two-bedroom homes in Bradford Street this month.

The houses were built through a partnership between the Accent Foundation and Barrow Borough Council and will help to alleviate some of the huge local demand for affordable housing.

Mrs Robinson and her family moved in on June 8 – exactly 21 years since she and David married – and said it was the best anniversary present ever.

“I’m loving it,” she said.

“I feel like my life has started all over again because in my old house I spent most of my time confined to one room because I couldn’t manage the stairs.

“But this house hasn’t got any stairs. And it’s great that it’s got a shower because I struggle to have a bath.”

Mr Robinson, who had to give up his work as a car mechanic to care full-time for his wife, said he was staggered when he saw the quality of the completed house and realised what it would mean for his family.

“It’s just brilliant,” he said.

“I didn’t expect it to look like this. The whole thing is just brilliant.”

Accent Foundation managing director Claire Stone was in Barrow on Wednesday for the homes’ official unveiling and was full of praise for the council and local contractors who worked on the project.

“Accent has worked in Barrow for many, many years and in addition to these 16 homes we’ve got over 500 across the borough and we’ve always enjoyed a really good relationship with Barrow,” she said.

“The cost of developing these houses was £2m and we couldn’t do that without the support of the Homes and Communities Agency which contributed £970,000.

“These will be homes for people long into the future.”

First published at 13:45, Friday, 22 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk