Better housing for the most vulnerable groups
01.03.2007
In an era where massive volumes of affordable housing are needed
to address the UK’s chronic shortage, housing special needs groups is one of the most challenging aspects of the social landlord’s remit.
Councils are under pressure to care for vulnerable sections of society in their own homes, while housing associations need to balance densities and quality issues to ensure value for money from the public purse.
Moreover, specialist landlords catering for the elderly, people with mental health issues, or those with disabilities have the complex challenge of identifying capital and revenue support in their business plans, which in many cases can delay refurbishment of outdated sheltered schemes.
Sovereign Development Consortium’s five developing landlords has discussed this at length with the four special needs housing providers – John Grooms, Brunelcare, Advance, and Ability housing associations.
Development Director of specialist landlord Brunelcare, Paul Musgrove, said: “Although there’s more government recognition of the complex issues involved in delivering more special needs housing, we felt that there was more the sector should be doing off our own backs.”
SDC has now devised a strategic action plan - currently in consultation with councils and the Housing Corporation - to improve the number, quality and location of special needs housing, and has identified 20 schemes in 17 districts where the Consortium’s relations with local councils will ensure the right homes in the right place. This should add significantly to the 3400 supported homes under management within the Consortium.
The main benefits of this are:
Greater stability and certainty to plan for definite schemes.
Integration of specialist units in S106 developments.
More efficient development.
Paul added: “The upshot is that the generalist landlords are prepared to forward fund some of our proposals, so that we can start working now on detailed proposals. We now have access to a range of contractors, developers and consultants to call on, and if we can secure grant-funding in the next government bid round, we should be able to raise the game of special needs housing provision across the region.”
The Consortium is now working on proposals ranging from elderly housing, homes for people recovering from brain injuries and wheelchair-friendly housing, to specialist housing for those with learning difficulties. Of course, SDC will be working closely with councils and care agencies to ensure accommodation fits in with local requirements.
Published March 2007
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