Celebrations as extra care scheme takes shape

Published by 792 for Housing 21 in Housing and also in Communities, Local Government

Progress on the development of a new extra care facility for older people in Stone is to be celebrated by the project partners next week when they get together to open a show flat at the site.

Councillor Matthew Ellis, cabinet member for adults and wellbeing with Staffordshire County Council, will be joining representatives of Housing 21, Stafford Borough Council, the Homes and Communities Agency and Kendrick Construction for the occasion at Summerfield Court in Altona Close.

The event marks a major stage in the second phase of the £4.2 million development at Summerfield Court; adding a further 38 rental apartments to the current 42 apartments and bungalows which were completed in 2008. The scheme will also house a full catering kitchen to replace the current temporary facility. 

The new development includes 10 apartments designed for people with learning disabilities and eight for people with dementia. Housing 21 will be providing all the care services in the scheme.

Julia Godwin, development programme manager for Housing 21 said: “It is pleasing to see phase two of Summerfield Court really taking shape. These additional apartments will provide high quality, independent living for older people as well as supporting identified needs such as dementia and learning disabilities.”

County Councillor Matthew Ellis, Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing said:  “This is tremendous news for stone people and helps towards our commitment for more high quality lifestyle orientated developments across Staffordshire for those who have varying care needs or are simply getting that bit older. We pledged back in 2009 to raise the number of Extra/Flexi Care places available to buy or rent across Staffordshire from 430 then to 1500 over 4 years. We are now on track for over 2000 meaning even more people will be able to maintain active, flexible and enjoyable lives as they get older or their health needs change.”

Councillor Patrick Farrington, cabinet member for community at Stafford Borough Council, said: "This is a great example of partnership working and we are very pleased to be able to support this project. It is well known that nationally we have a growing elderly population so the provision of this type of facility is important for the future care of the older residents in our community."

The development at Summerfield Court has been helped with funding of £2.1 million from the Homes and Communities Agency. Pele Bedward, investment and regeneration manager said: “Summerfield Court is going to be a fantastic facility for the local community and we are pleased that our investment is enabling Housing 21 and Staffordshire County and Borough Council to deliver this important project for the area’s elderly community.”

John Downes, contracts manager for Kendrick Special Projects said: “Kendrick Special Projects are proud to have been appointed as the main contractor for both Phase 1 and Phase 2 projects, working in partnership with Housing 21 and their consultants ‘’

Anyone interested in finding out more about accommodation at Summerfield Court must be aged 55 and over, have a housing-related support and/or a health and social care need, be on the housing register and reside in the district of Stone or in wider Staffordshire. 

The work is due to complete in April 2011.