Private sector to build most extra care housing schemes

Private property developers will build most of extra care
housing schemes in the future, community care minister Stephen
Ladyman predicted today, writes Craig
Kenny.

Ladyman predicts future of extra care housing schemes

However, he confessed to being disappointed that the private
sector had so far resisted his overtures to join in partnerships to
build extra care housing schemes.

Developers attending the Laing and Buisson conference in London
complained that local authorities were resistant to private sector
involvement and that planning regulations were too restrictive.

Ladyman hinted that the forthcoming White Paper on adult social
care might spell out changes in the planning regime.

He added that developers ought to see a marketing opportunity in
the fact that extra care leasehold homes enabled older people to
pass on equity to their children.

“If you put a gun to my head I would say that most common
schemes in the future are going to be entirely privately
owned,” he said.

“Extra care housing schemes are the future,” he
insisted. “Swim against the tide and you will
drown.”

The minister also announced 21 successful bids to the
government’s £40 million extra care housing fund, mostly
local authority led partnerships, that will provide 979 new extra
care homes.

The largest award, £9.8 million, went to an extra care
‘retirement village’ in Hartlepool, which will also
include facilities for the local community.

Eight of the successful bids will feature a mix of rented and
leasehold units.