Extra Care housing options being explored
A number of sites across Shropshire could be used for affordable housing developments in the future, after the plug was pulled on the Extra Care housing project.
Seven sites were earmarked for 400 Extra Care homes, which were aimed at providing independent living for people with particular healthcare needs, but the Government withdrew the £137 million of funding towards the end of last year (2010).
Now Shropshire Council is looking at making sure the sites are used to their full potential if they do not become Extra Care housing projects. The council is still working with partner organisations to explore alternative funding options for the Extra Care scheme, but it is accepted that it will be difficult to go ahead with the current sites in the near future.
With that in mind, council officers are looking at each site to consider what they could be suitable for. A report is being considered by Shropshire Council’s Cabinet next week (Wednesday 16 March 2011), which recommends that four of the sites – The Wheatlands in Baschurch, Rhea Hall in Highley, Wemsbrook in Wem, and the Timber Yard in Cheshire Street, Market Drayton – might be suitable for traditional and affordable housing developments.
A further report with final options on the remaining sites – The Wharf in Ellesmere, Oxon in Shrewsbury, and Alexandra Road in Oswestry – will be discussed later in the spring.
Councillor Malcolm Price, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for housing and planning, said:
“We have a serious need for housing in Shropshire, and these sites might be very useful for providing more affordable housing for local people. However, I would stress that any future development would need to go through the usual rigorous planning process, and this report is merely suggesting possible future use of these sites.”
Councillor Simon Jones, Cabinet member for adult services, said:
“It was very disappointing that funding was pulled for the Extra Care housing scheme, and we are still committed to providing appropriate facilities in the future. We are talking to our partners about how we might do this, but it’s important that we make best use of these sites if we can in the meantime.”
