44 Pensioner Flats Allocated At Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Mews
The Government has allocated all 44 pensioner rental flats at Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Mews, Chatham Views, through a public ballot.
The new tenants will move into fully completed homes, with their previous Government rental properties returning to the housing stock for future allocation.
A statement from the Government follows below:
HM Government of Gibraltar is pleased to announce that all 44 pensioner rental flats at Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Mews, Chatham Views, have today been allocated by public ballot.
The ballot took place this morning in the block's day room, in the presence of the new tenants and their families, and was conducted with the Housing Allocation Committee in attendance. The occasion also gave tenants the opportunity to see their new homes for the first time.
The block has been named Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Mews in memory of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Permission for the name was sought from the Royal Household, with the Government working closely with the Office of the Governor to secure this fitting tribute.
Every flat has been handed over fully finished and ready for immediate occupation, with caretakers based on site from day one. The block has been purpose-built around the needs of older residents and sits within easy reach of GHA services, shopping and Main Street.
The day room provides a large, open plan and fully air-conditioned communal space with its own kitchen and a generous balcony. A dedicated clinic room will allow health professionals to deliver services such as vaccinations to residents without them needing to leave the building. Residents will also enjoy a shared terrace with spectacular 360 degree views of Gibraltar.
All 44 new tenants are existing Government tenants. Each will return their current rental property to the Housing Department on moving in, and those homes will in turn be made available for reallocation to applicants on the housing waiting list.
This allocation continues the Government's programme of purpose-built accommodation for senior citizens, which has already delivered the 73 flats at Charles Bruzon House and the 69 flats at Sea Master Lodge, both allocated by public ballot in 2017, together with the complete refurbishment of Bishop Canilla House in 2019. A further pensioner rental block will follow as part of the new Westside reclamation development.
The Minister for Housing, the Hon Pat Orfila MP, said: "Seeing our pensioners allocated their new homes in the very day room they will soon be enjoying was a special moment. It is fitting that a home for our senior citizens should carry the name of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and I thank the Royal Household and the Office of the Governor for making this possible.”
“These flats have been designed from the outset around comfort, independence and community, and they are ready for tenants to move straight in, with caretakers on site and every service they need close by. Every one of these tenants will also be returning a rental property to the Housing Department, which means more homes becoming available for families on the waiting list. This is what delivering for our community looks like."
