Residents at sheltered accommodation in Gosport have given their housing provider a massive vote of confidence in a new customer survey.

Thorngate  has been asking current and prospective residents about what is important to them ahead of plans for a new development in the town.

Chief executive Anne Taylor said current residents have given Thorngate a real vote of confidence for the homes, the community, and the support the charity provides.

“We are always looking to ensure our developments offer residents the very best in terms of independent living with warden support and the results of this latest survey suggest we have the balance right,” said Anne.

“This year we also spoke to those on our waiting list to ensure that our new development will offer them the kind of living they are looking for, so their responses are crucial as we fine tune plans for our latest homes and the community we will be creating.”

Thorngate scored a 100 per cent rating of aspects such as safety and security at their developments, cleanliness of communal areas, the friendly and approachable staff and their overall impression of the schemes.

There were also high ratings when residents were asked if they would recommend Thorngate to others with reasons cited including that they are happy at Thorngate and feel that others would benefit from living there.

The survey highlighted four key areas of success with residents feeling safe, making friends, praising the buildings and facilities and enjoying the balance of their own independence with the knowledge that help is on hand when needed.

“This is exactly the balance we are looking to achieve in our sheltered accommodation flats,” said Anne. “The whole team here works hard to ensure that a Thorngate home is one of safety and security where people live in attractive comfortable surroundings and feel they still retain their independence.”

Prospective tenants currently on the waiting list were asked about their expectations of a Thorngate home and their reasons for wanting to live in one.

Top of the list was a recommendation from existing residents while others said they liked the fact that Thorngate is a trust and more likely to create communities than living in a council run development.

“The prospective residents are keen to live somewhere with good facilities and the opportunity to be among like-minded individuals they can socialise with,” said Anne. “They are also looking for a home which is suitable for their needs and offers space, comfort, cleanliness and security which are features we will be incorporating into our new Grove Road development and mirrors the offering we provide elsewhere in Gosport.”

Thorngate is due to start work this year on the Grove Road development in Gosport with 30 new homes built initially.