Minister seeks greater private sector role.

Minister for community care Stephen Ladyman has criticised councils
that are failing to involve private sector housing developers in
the building of extra care homes.

Ladyman told a seminar on planning for older people that the
private sector was “not sufficiently involved in the provision of
housing and services for older people”.

He added that, when they had tried to get involved, they were
obstructed by the planning system, despite the need for more
housing for older people.

Ladyman said he expected “more winners from private sector housing
developers” to compete to build new homes because it was part of
the government’s plans.

Yet only a handful of private developers have bid for a slice of
the £87m extra care housing fund for 2004-6, which is
supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and run by the
Department of Health in partnership with the Housing Corporation.