£1m boost for disabled housing scheme » Housing » 24dash.com

Brighton & Hove City Council has won £1m from the Department of Health to develop the city’s third extra care housing scheme at the former Vernon Gardens resource centre in Brighton.

The project, to be developed in partnership with Guinness Housing Trust, aims to remodel the centre as ten flats for disabled adults subject to planning approval.

Extra care housing provides independent living so that people have their own flat, with an on-site care team that provides a model of care and support that maximises people’s independence. The city’s first two extra care schemes – New Larchwood in Coldean and Patching Lodge in Kemp Town – provide housing for older people.

The development is also likely to include space for health and rehabilitation services, a community café and meeting space for voluntary organisations, as well as a community resource for people to access advice, information and support.

It is expected that local people who will be using the services will sit on a project steering group alongside the council, local NHS, Guinness Housing and the Brighton & Hove Federation for Disabled People.

Cabinet member for adult social care Councillor Ken Norman said: “This is excellent news. The state-of-the-art accommodation we are planning will make a big difference in terms of quality of life not just to the residents of the flats themselves, but also to a wide range of other people who will be able to use the other new on-site facilities.”

It is hoped that work will be able to start on site in 2009.