Gateway - Making Hull a great place to live

Back home after 50 years

Moving to a new home has brought back special memories for Bill and Jean Toker, who are among the first to benefit from Gateway's plans to revive the housing market on Preston Road.

For Bill and Jean, who recently moved into their brand new bungalow at Ellerby Grove, have returned to the very spot where they met in 1949.

Jean explains: "When the new development started, we realised that the bungalow being built on plot six was right on the site of Bill's old house, where we met and did all of our courting. It's really exciting to be back here after all these years - but in a really lovely new home."

Since 1965 Bill and Jean had lived in one of Preston Road's problematic 'Wild' houses which suffer from structural problems. All 260 are now being demolished by Gateway as part of plans to improve the quality and choice of housing in the area.

The Toker's new home is a two-bedroomed bungalow and is part of a development of 107 new homes. The new property boasts central heating, double glazing, and off-road parking as well as a fully fitted kitchen, two bedrooms, living room and bathroom. French doors open from the kitchen into the garden and patio area. Built to Eco-homes standard "very good", the bungalow will be far warmer and more energy efficient than their previous home.

The innovative design of these new homes means that they follow a 'central crescent' layout meaning the layout of the properties optimises the sun angle giving them lots of natural light. The properties are made from a mix of traditional materials and modern treatments with contrasting mixes of brick, render and timber.

The development incudes a range of two and three storey flats, bungalows for older people, two, three and four bedroomed houses and bungalows designed for families with disabilities.