Step forward for partnership scheme

Carlisle City Council’s Full Council gave the go-ahead to the lease of land for a new ‘Extra Care’ housing site this week (Tuesday, 6 November).

A partnership between the City Council, Cumbria County Council and Eden Housing Association, the scheme proposes the construction of 60 new homes for predominately elderly residents who require care support, but who wish to live independently. The homes will provide an alternative to residential care.

The land, off Low Meadow, Belle Vue, is currently vacant. An extensive consultation, involving a letter drop to 200 local residents, has been undertaken.

Carlisle City Cllr Judy Prest, Portfolio holder for Health and Wellbeing said:

"There has been an identified need for extra care housing in Carlisle and the proposed development helps meet this demand. The partnership approach by the City Council, the County Council and Eden Housing Association is moving the scheme forward for the benefit of some of our most vulnerable residents. There is still a long way to go, but the Full Council’s decision is another important step forward. We will continue to involve local residents every step of the way."

Eden Housing Association has been selected as the preferred housing partner following a major joint selection process involving the City and County Councils.

Paul Davies Eden Housing Association’s Chief Executive said:

Eden Housing Association is delighted to have been selected as a partner for such an innovative and ground breaking extra-care housing scheme, which will allow us to build upon our previous experience. This has been designed to meet a range of needs through the adoption of modern living concepts, with the aspirations of today's and tomorrow's older persons very much at the forefront.

We are confident that this will be of major benefit to both the local and wider community and will fulfil the objectives of the county's health and social care strategies. We look forward to delivering the reality with our local authority and health authority partners.

Following last night’s Full Council decision the next stage will involve submitting an outline planning application and submitting funding applications to the Government’s Housing Corporation and the Department of Health. It is hoped that subject to these issues being resolved the scheme could be completed by autumn 2010.

Cllr Oliver Pearson, cabinet member responsible for Health and Wellbeing at Cumbria County Council, said: "We have been working closely with the city council on these proposals to provide more independence and choice for older people in Carlisle and I am delighted at last night’s decision to move the project on to the next phase.

We know there is a high demand in Carlisle for more extra care housing, which combines all the advantages of sheltered housing with the 24-hour support provided in residential homes.