Green light for £6.8 million extra care scheme with a difference » Housing » 24dash.com

An extra care scheme with a difference has received £4.1 million from the government’s Extra Care Housing Fund. The money will go towards a £6.8 million development in Blackburn.

The development will include fifty 2 bedroom apartments, eight 1 bedroom flats and four 2 bedroom bungalows. As an ‘extra care’ scheme, there will also be on site 24-hour home care support, and extra facilities.

But the development will also incorporate a new home for Blackburn’s United Reformed Church (URC). The church is housed in part of a building that was a day centre until last year. That building will be demolished to make way for the extra care scheme, but the URC will still have a home. They will temporarily relocate to an existing extra care scheme, and move into the new building when it is complete.

The Reverend Alan Barnes, Pastor of the United Reformed Church said: “We are delighted at the prospect of this development. Not just for us but also because it will meet the needs of local people well into the 21st Century. It’s fantastic news!”

But it is not just the URC who will have a presence. Blackburn with Darwen's Interfaith Council will develop a multi-faith resource centre to provide information about all religions in the area.

The scheme, which will be built in partnership with housing providers Housing 21, the Blackburn with Darwen Carers Service and the local Primary Care Trust, also includes:

Dedicated dementia care facilities
Four respite/ short stay units
Well being/ health care suite
Facilities for the Carers service
Hair salon
Restaurant
Sensory garden
Communal lounges
Activity space
Guest room
Laundry
 

Councillor David Foster, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s executive member for adult social care, said: “This is great news for local people. Our existing extra care scheme in Mill Hill has been a huge success, and this new development will be bigger and have even more facilities. These schemes mean that older people can have more independence yet still get the support they need.”

Councillor Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing, said: “This scheme promises older people better housing with a better quality of life. The development is a very high standard building that replaces two others that have seen better days.”