Cumbria County Council’s cabinet has today (11 December) approved the next step in a scheme which could see hundreds of thousands of pounds invested in a new housing project for older people in Carlisle.
The scheme would see land off Low Meadow transformed into an extra-care housing development for older people in the city.
Extra-care (also known as 'very-sheltered housing') combines all the advantages of sheltered housing with the round-the-clock care provided in residential homes. People still have their own front door and are supported by an on-site care and support team.
Cumbria’s attraction as a retirement destination is just one of the reasons why the county’s population of older people is expected to continue growing faster than the national average in the decades ahead.
County councillors today endorsed the selection of Eden Housing Association as the council’s housing partner. Carlisle City Council are also partners in the scheme and have contributed the land for the project which proposes the construction of 60 homes.
The county council expects to invest around £320,000 to £400,000 each year in on-site care and support services from 2010-11 when the homes are expected to accept their first tenants. Capital funding for the scheme is expected to come from the Housing Corporation.
This is just the latest project in the county council’s drive to provide more independence and choice for older people in Cumbria.
Early next year, the council will be consulting on proposals to invest millions of pounds in six new, state-of-the-art residential homes on new and existing community hospital sites in Wigton, Keswick, Brampton, Millom, Alston and Penrith.
Councillor Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Adult Social Care and Health at Cumbria County Council, said: "Today’s decision is an important step in the county council’s drive to provide more independence and choice for older people in Carlisle.
"Extra-care housing combines all the advantages of staying at home with going into residential care, while removing the disadvantages of both."
ENDS
Cabinet papers considered by councillors at their meeting today (11 December) can be viewed by following the link below.
Follow this link to view cabinet papers discussed 11 December 2007