The £1.4 million transformation of an ageing sheltered housing block in Pool-in-Wharfedale has been hailed as a “beacon” for others to follow.

Residents, relatives and councillors crowded into Wharfedale Court last Thursday to see the wholesale improve-ments for themselves and celebrate the complex’s official re-opening.

The home’s 35 old bedsits and flats – which had shared toilets and were proving increasingly hard to let – have been replaced with 21 spacious, self-contained homes and a warden’s apartment.

Each of the new flats is fully wheelchair accessible with walk-in showers and new kitchens.

The reopening marks the conclusion of a remarkable turnaround in Wharfedale Court’s fortunes. Four years ago the Main Street building was earmarked for closure. But a public outcry and an 826-signature petition persuaded Leeds North West Homes (LNWH) to think again.

Councillor Barry Anderson (Con, Adel and Wharfedale), declaring the revamped property open, said: “In my view this is an exemplary exhibition of what you an do with an old building to turn it into somewhere people want to live.

“Hopefully it will be seen as a beacon for the rest of the city and people will come and look at it to see what can be done.”

The work has included: l building a new kitchen l installing a more efficient heating system lrenewing the roof and guttering and replacing all the windows l adding a lift.

Thanking everyone involved in the project, Coun Anderson concluded: “Most of all I’d like to thank the residents for all the upset they’ve had to put up with over the past few years. Hopefully you’re now happy in your new homes.”

Mona Newbould, who has lived at Wharfedale Court for 15 years, had to be moved around during the work.

But she said: “The rooms are fine now, much better than before. It’s been worth the disruption and the workers have been fantastic, they couldn’t do enough for us.”

Fellow resident Marion Launder said: “I’ve had to move twice while it’s been going on but I’m back in my own flat now and it is much better.”

Wharfedale Court warden Dawn Attwood was also delighted with the results. She said: “The builders were fantastic and the workmen on site really went out of their way to help the residents with anything they needed.

“The results are fantastic because these were tiny bedists before, not disabled friendly and with shared toilets.

“Now we’ve got much more spacious, self-contained flats with much wider doors so wheelchair users can move freely.”