Plans move forward for new extra care housing across the city

Senior councillors in Leeds will be discussing a programme to deliver new council-owned extra care housing at a meeting next week.

At the council’s executive board meeting to be held at Civic Hall on Wednesday 19 December, members will be updated on the progress made in the delivery of the extra care housing programme, which involves developing seven sites in the city for council-owned extra care accommodation.

Extra care housing is primarily for people who have care and support needs as well as a housing need. The scheme helps to alleviate social isolation through access to shared facilities, dining and activities and also provides on-site access to 24/7 emergency or unplanned care which is an additional feature that separates it from other forms of retirement living.

Extra care provision has also shown to result in savings for individuals and the council as it costs significantly less to deliver than residential care, even when recipients have medium to high care and support needs.

In July 2017, senior councillors approved proposals for the delivery of £30million of extra care housing for older people across the city as part of the Council House Growth Programme. Initially, six sites were identified to deliver up to 200 new council extra care homes and a significant number of private extra care homes.

The delivery of the programme has since been split into two packages. Package 1 will be delivered and managed by an external provider and will see four sites used to provide extra care housing schemes in Holt Park, Seacroft, West Ardsley and Woodlesford. These will be mixed tenure, including homes for outright sale, shared ownership and a minimum of 35% of them will be affordable rented homes.

Package 2, which is currently in the pre-procurement stage, will see up to 200 homes delivered directly by the council, with all the units being let at affordable rent levels and managed by the council. Delivery of this package will be supported by £30million of HRA capital funding. It is suggested that there are three sites in this package, rather than the two initially agreed. A site in Armley was already identified and agreed in July 2017, with two new sites now established as suitable and available; part of the Throstle Recreation Ground site in Middleton Park (as an alternative to the original site identified), and the north part of a site at Cartmell Drive South in Halton Moor. Executive board members are recommended to approve these two sites at the meeting next week.

If all sites are agreed, seven sites will be used for extra care schemes, ensuring HRA funding is maximised and that further progress is made towards the target of 1,000 extra care units in Leeds by 2028, as set out in the Leeds Vision for extra care.

If plans are supported and developed, both Package 1 and Package 2 schemes could be completed by spring 2022.

Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities Councillor Debra Coupar said:

“Enabling older people to tailor their accommodation and support to their individual needs is what is making extra care housing such a popular option. In Leeds we recognise that, as it becomes more popular, the need for this type of accommodation rises. Our programme will help tackle the critical undersupply of extra care housing in the city and deliver high quality homes for older people in seven locations across the city. This will mean that the council is well on its way to meeting its target of 1,000 extra care homes for older people across the city by 2028. We are also hopeful that the programme will act as a catalyst to promote the wider development of extra care housing across the city.”

Leeds City Council’s executive member for health, wellbeing and adults Councillor Rebecca Charlwood said:

“Building extra care housing is an important part of our ambition to make Leeds the best city to grow old in. These homes help tackle loneliness and social isolation while giving people the care and support they need and maintaining their independence. I'm pleased to see the council delivering new care services for older people in Leeds and I look forward to seeing the building programme progress.”

For media enquiries:

Becky Stubbs, Leeds City Council press office

Tel: 01133 786199Email: rebecca.stubbs@leeds.gov.uk