Tenants of 20 Loretto Housing Association flats in Beardmore Street were given the chance to put forward ideas to make their community an even better place to live.

Loretto launched the You Choose challenge, first asking tenants to take a short online survey about what they think the area needed most and how they would like to see £2800 invested.

Tenants of Loretto, part of Wheatley Group, were able to choose between several options. The options included a new seating area with planters and extra whirly gigs; an extended drying area with clothes poles or upgrading their lift entrance.

The apartment block, which officially opened in 2019, was built as part of Wheatley Group’s Livingwell service. The service helps older tenants live independently in their own homes for as long as they can.

Laura Henderson, managing director of Loretto Housing Association, said: “We are committed to putting tenants at the heart of our decisions and we gave them the option to decide what to do with the money.

“They came up with some excellent ideas and we put it to the vote. They voted overwhelmingly for the seating area which they will be able to use in better weather and for Livingwell activities as well.”

Work will now begin to create the seating area and they hope to start installing the new seats and whirly gigs in the spring.