More than £100m is being made available to create supported living developments across the country.
Building projects have been given the green light in a bid to create new homes that will support older and disabled people to live independently for as long as possible.
The move comes after the Government asked local authorities to bid for a share of £300m to boost the supported housing market. The Department of Health has now allocated funding to build more than 3,500 new homes.
We have awarded companies funding to build more than 3,500 homes around the country. These will be tailored to people’s needs and will help them to remain active as long as possible without the need to go into a care home
As part of the first phase of this scheme, the department will issue more than £100m of this fund to the Homes and Communities Agency, which will work with 86 successful agencies to build 2,875. In London specifically, the department will award the Greater London Assembly just over £29m for 35 successful bidders who will be building 669 homes.
Announcing the cash, Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb, said: “As we know, most people want to be independent in their own homes and as the population ages, more and more of us will need housing that supports us to do that.
“We have awarded companies funding to build more than 3,500 homes around the country. These will be tailored to people’s needs and will help them to remain active as long as possible without the need to go into a care home.
“Better and more suitable housing will also alleviate pressure on carers and families, as the person being cared for will be able to carry out everyday tasks more easily.”
Affordable supportive housing is designed to be accessible and to aid independent living by having, for example, very few or no stairs, cupboards that are at a reachable height for wheelchair users, adapted bathrooms that are easy to access for older or disabled people, and handrails to reduce the risk of falls.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “It is essential that we increase the supply of purpose-built, quality homes for older and disabled Londoners if they are to have a real choice in how and where they live. These affordable homes will help hundreds remain in their own communities and, with a greater demand for quality and design, raise the benchmark for how this type of housing is delivered for this growing demographic.
Andy Rose, chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency, added: “Housing plays a crucial role in helping older people and disabled adults to live as independently as possible and, with an ageing population and changing demographics, investment in specialised housing is more important than ever.
“The allocations announced today will help make a real difference to people’s lives in communities right across the country.”
