People living at Clanmil Housing's The Savoy independent living housing scheme in Bangor are celebrating the successful completion of a major refurbishment project.
 

The Savoy provides 56 easy-to-manage apartments for people over 60. The accommodation and services at the scheme help support independence and an active lifestyle for the people who live there.

At a cost of £170,000, the four month renovation project, carried out for Clanmil by Kingsway Contractors, has ensured that the homes at The Savoy will be comfortable, safe and secure and a really good place to live for many years to come.

The building, formerly the Savoy Hotel and a Bangor landmark, was built in 1932 and converted into independent living apartments for older people in 1990. It is one of Northern Ireland's best examples of 1930's Art Deco architecture and this most recent refurbishment gives a nod to the past with a distinctly Art Deco theme.

The project included replacement doors throughout the building, redecoration of the exterior, including the iconic Savoy sign, access improvements and redecoration of the communal lounge which is now called 'The Gaston Room' after the family who ran The Savoy Hotel. Framed images of Bangor 'back in the day' and copies of Gaston Tours brochures are displayed around the building as a reminder of its illustrious past.

Clare McCarty, Group Chief Executive at Clanmil Housing, joined tenants and staff to celebrate the successful completion of the project. She said:

"It is a pleasure to join in the celebrations. This project has delivered many improvements to people's homes, both inside and out. I would like to thank our contractors, Kingsway, for the fantastic job they have done in rejuvenating The Savoy. We are also really grateful to everyone who lives here for their patience during the work and I hope that they will continue to enjoy life at the 'new and improved' Savoy."

Mr Samuel Glover who has lived at The Savoy for almost 4 years with his wife, is very happy with the improvements. He said:

"I am delighted in the change in the property, it has been worth waiting for and I really like the Art deco finish and the additional space created for us tenants to enjoy our activities. I would like to thank Sinead and Ciara from Clanmil, for the planning of it all."