£8.2 million extra care housing development to be built in Newton Abbot

CONSTRUCTION is due to start soon on an £8.2 million extra-care housing development in Newton Abbot. Once it's built, the new development will will provide 50 self-contained flats, ten of which will be specifically for people with dementia. The scheme will help meet the care needs of people over the age of 55 in the area...

Planning permission has been granted for the new development, which is on part of the old hospital site in the town centre. Construction should start next month, with the first flats available the autumn of 2014.

The scheme is being developed in partnership with Teignbridge District Council, Aster Housing Group and construction firm Galliford Try Partnerships.

Of the 50 flats, 28 will be one bed, and 22 will be two bed. Six flats will be for sale on the open market and eight flats available for low-cost home ownership. Thirty six flats will be for affordable rent, including all the dementia flats.

In addition the scheme will also provide communal areas including a dining room, lounge, activity rooms, a hair salon, beauty treatment room and gardens

Most significantly, the housing comes with an on-site care and support team. The care is available to residents 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing as much or as little support as they need, when they need it.

Devon County Council says it has invested £1.3m in the new development, with Teignbridge investing £500,000. The remaining funding will come from the Homes and Communities Agency and Aster Housing Group.

Councillor Stuart Barker, the Council's Cabinet Member responsible for social care, said: "Extra care housing is a real alternative to residential care which allows people to live independently for as long as possible. I have been very keen to see much more provision of this model of care.  We are committed to providing up to 950 units across Devon and have put £10m into our budget to support schemes.

"Most people say that they would rather, given the opportunity, have care services available to them in their own homes, when they want it. Extra care housing lets people move into their own smaller, more manageable home to live independently and to enjoy the personal choice associated with living in your own home."

Councillor Philip Vogel, Teignbridge spokesman for planning and housing, said: "We are pleased to be working with Devon County Council and other partners to help to provide  homes where there is a proven need. We are sure these extra-care homes in Newton Abbot will be popular choice as they so conveniently located close to the town centre."

Key factors

Demography and an increasing number of people living longer with complex conditions such as dementia and chronic illness is one of the key factors influencing the way that health and social care is provided in future.

Devon already has one of the oldest populations when compared with most counties in the UK, and the number of people aged over 65 - currently 167,600 - is expected to increase by nearly 40% by 2021.

In response, DCC says it plans to develop 19 extra care housing schemes before 2020, creating around 950 flats across the county. So far three schemes are operating in Okehampton, Ivybridge and Newton Ferrers.

Major benefit

Local County Councillor Gordon Hook said: "I am pleased to see this development on a brown field site taking shape, and I particularly welcome the additional affordable housing units. These will be a major benefit to local people."

David Luke, Regional Development Director for Aster, said 'It is exciting to see another new Extra Care scheme under construction. The striking modern building will be a key element of the redevelopment of the old hospital site but more importantly it will provide independence, safety and security making a difference to the lives of the people who live there."

Paul Munro of Galliford Try Partnerships said "We are delighted to have facilitated and to be involved in the construction of this prestigious scheme on behalf of Aster Housing Group."