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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.