North Tyneside extra care scheme gets underway

Construction work is soon to get underway on 45 two-bedroom apartments for older people. To mark the occasion the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, John Harrison, cut the turf in a special ground-breaking ceremony on Tuesday 25 November.

Housing 21 is developing the state-of-the-art scheme in partnership with North Tyneside Council, Frank Haslam Milan (FHM) and the Housing Corporation on the site of the former Sir James Bowman House residential care home. Former resident, Ruby Chipperfield, also joined in the ceremony.

The extra care apartments will support older people with a range of needs, from fairly low-level support to those with a need for a higher level of care, giving residents their own home in a communal scheme with care and support staff available 24 hrs a day. The development is aimed specifically at people aged over 55, with seven of the new apartments available to purchase under a shared-ownership basis.

Juliette Daniel, development programme manager for Housing 21, said: “We are delighted to see that the construction of this exciting new project is now underway. Older people in Killingworth will have the opportunity to live in a purpose-built, secure environment that will enable them to maintain their independence.”

As well as independent living accommodation, residents will be able to enjoy on-site facilities including a residents’ lounge, laundry room, hairdressing salon, small shop and cafeteria. The scheme will also provide a day care centre.

North Tyneside's elected mayor, John Harrison, said: "This extra care scheme will be a great place for older people to live and is one of two being developed in the borough.

"Both will offer state-of-the-art provision for those who may need additional support, but with the addition of community and other facilities. Importantly, residents will still be able to enjoy independent living as they will have their own tenancy and front door.

"I'm also delighted that the council's team and Housing 21 have been involving local people throughout the development process. These two extra care schemes, along with the replacement of our current sheltered accommodation, show we're delivering on our promise to provide first class homes for first class people."
 

FHM North East Managing Director David Mellor said: “It is no secret that there is an ageing population. In fact, by 2040, the number of people over 64 in Britain will have increased to 15 million. People are living longer and housing solutions are needed to meet this increased demand.

“FHM and its partners are creating homes which offer a great deal of flexibility for residents as they grow older. The Killingworth development is a good example of housing that allows people to live as independently as possible, for as long as possible.”

This development is one of two that Housing 21, FHM and the Council are providing in North Tyneside as part of a multi million pound investment to transform services for older and vulnerable people in the area. Work on a second extra care scheme at the Linkskill Centre will begin in the New Year.