Relief as £3.1m housing scheme cash comes through
Adam Hewitt • Published 9 Sep 2010 09:30
0 Comments
Share this
See also:
UNDER-THREAT funding for 40 homes for the over-55s has materialised after all.
There were fears that £3.1m from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to develop the former Avenue School site in Basingstoke Road, Whitley, might fall victim to Government cuts after the money was put 'under review’ in July.
But the Government confirmed this week the project will go ahead because of its “strategic importance”, albeit a few months behind schedule and as part of a different programme, and the council's legal department signed on the dotted line yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon.
Borough community care leader Cllr Daisy Benson said: “We were going to have to work with a housing association, but will now be able to manage it as council housing.”
The development of 27 one-bed and 13 two-bed flats for rent also includes a restaurant, hobby rooms and a spa treatment area. It allows residents to live independently, but with care facilities on site if needed. Older people had input into the scheme’s design, suggesting putting in raised flower beds and a barbecue area.
Cllr Benson praised the role of Reading East Tory MP Rob Wilson in getting the funding and said: “It’s a good example of the Coalition working well together - Rob Wilson really pressed for this.”
Mr Wilson, who wrote to housing minister Grant Shapps twice and lobbied him in person, said: “We do have massive financial pressures, so it is important to prioritise the projects we can invest in, but this was an important project to save.”
In a letter to Mr Shapps, Mr Wilson wrote: “Reading has a shortage of appropriate housing for elderly and vulnerable people and this project is considered key in addressing this issue and enabling more people within my constituency to live independent lives at home.
“It would help alleviate problems such as bed blocking, for example, and would help free up social housing for young families and others in our community who so desperately need it.”
Labour community care spokesman Cllr Mike Orton, on whose watch the original deal was signed, said: “I am very pleased this u-turn has taken place and that all the pressure on Coalition politicians over this has paid off. It will allow people to remain in their own homes as they grow older, improve care for the elderly, especially in south Reading, and at the same time make more homes available for young families.”
But he added: “The delay in building will be about five months and will lead to extra costs in the future, as well as delaying appropriate housing for many people. We haven’t been told yet what other schemes will not go ahead to pay for this.”
Ken Glendinning, head of area at the HCA, said: “I am delighted we can now underline our support for Reading Borough Council’s aspirations by allocating more than £3m to enable the transformation of the former school site into 40 modern, affordable and sustainable homes for the elderly community. There is still work to be done before the scheme can go ahead however. As well as providing this vital investment, we will work closely with the council and our partners towards delivering these quality homes for an ageing population.”
The scheme was originally to be funded under the Labour's Government's Local Authority New Build programme, but the money is now coming from the National Affordable Housing Programme.
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Sep 10
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
