Mansfield couple Karen and Peter Plant and their 19-year-old son, Michael, have opened the door to a new life, following their move to a new council-built bungalow in Bonington Road, that has been designed to support the needs of people with disabilities.

Receiving the keys from Mansfield District Council’s deputy mayor Mick Barton and head of housing Hayley Barsby, Karen Plant said the purpose-built accommodation would make a huge difference to their lives.

Karen said: “Michael has Down’s Syndrome, autism and ADHD and has had surgery for spinal problems. Moving to a bungalow will make it a lot easier to care for him as he is sometimes wheelchair bound, due to problems with his knees.

“In our previous home, Pete and I were constantly running up and down stairs to look after him. Having the accommodation on one level will make life a lot easier. Also, living here we are very close to our families, who give us a lot of support.”

The light and spacious two-bedroom bungalow features a kitchen with a sink and hob that can be adjusted to a person’s height, and a spacious wet room with hand rails. It was built on an old garage site, which now accommodates two new bungalows, both of which have rainwater harvesting, whereby rainwater is stored in an underground tank and re-used within the bungalows’ toilets.

The properties were offered in the first instance to existing tenants, who were living in larger properties and wished to downsize, freeing up homes for tenants who need more bedrooms.

Coun Barry Answer, portfolio holder for housing at Mansfield District Council, said: “We are delighted that this property will improve the quality of life of the Plant family and we wish them well in the future. Our investment in new-build properties in Bonington Road demonstrates the council’s commitment to providing high-quality housing stock that meets the needs of our residents and enhances their lives.”