New Flats For Elderly
A £7 million development of flats designed just for older people has now started.
Hanover Housing Association, in partnership with Leicester City Council held a ceremony to mark the start of construction of a new ExtraCare estate last Friday.
The new estate will provide 57 specially designed, wheelchair accessible self contained one and two bed flats. 45 will be available for rent and 12 will be for sale. Each flat will have a bedroom, bathroom with a level entry shower, kitchen and living room. For added peace of mind, there will be an Estate Manager Service and an onsite skilled team offering 24- hour care and support. Each flat will be connected to a 24-hour alarm call system.
The aim of the new estate is to offer older people security, safety, support and companionship - all the positives of residential care, but with the added advantage of retaining independence and privacy in self-contained flats.
Facilities will include a lounge, restaurant, laundry, shop, beauty suite, and a guest suite for the use of friends and relatives. There will be a motorised scooter store, an IT room, and an assisted bathroom. There will also be two multipurpose rooms with changing facilities for residents and for older people living in the wider community.
Councillor Parmjit Singh Gill, Cabinet Lead for Adult and Community Services for Leicester City Council said 'Leicester City Council is committed to the development of services that will extend the range of choice available to the people of Leicester. ExtraCare Housing will be an essential component of these services of the future. The Wycombe Road scheme is the first step on the way to providing opportunities for more independent lives to all older people in the city. We are proud to be working with Hanover Housing Association on this important development.'
In 2004/5, Leicester City Council, in partnership with Hanover Housing Association, was successful in winning a joint bid to the Department of Health and the Housing Corporation to part-finance this project. The joint bid was worth £3.8 million.