A West London borough will see an extra 200 flats built for people who need extra care to be able to live independently, doubling the current number available.
Hounslow Council announced the plans earlier this week with the first 50 homes being built in Hanworth. The rest will follow over the next four years but other sites where they could be built have not been announced.
Leading council figures have described the plans as an “important” step for the borough.
In a joint statement, Hounslow Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Integration, Councillor Lily Bath, and Deputy Leader, Cllr Tom Bruce, said: “This is important, inclusive growth for the borough.
“New Extra Care facilities in Hounslow will boost provision from just over 200 units currently to over 400 in the coming years. There is a growing cohort of residents ready and eligible for schemes that reduce needs from escalating and delay hospital admissions through effective integration between local health and social care.”
Those who will benefit from the new flats will have access to help with tasks such as washing, dressing, personal care and taking medication. The local authority says this type of provision is a “popular, cost-effective alternative” to traditional adult social care.
There are currently just over 200 units in the borough, with Brentford, Feltham, Hounslow and Isleworth already hosting facilities. The council say there will be over 400 by 2028/29.
This will start with the construction of 50 flats in Nene Gardens, Hanworth. Nene Gardens was chosen as it is an “underutilised council-owned site”, and the council’s in-house demand modelling shows that there is a growing demand for this type of accommodation in Hanworth.
The scheme is being funded through a mix of grants. Hounslow Council has committed £490,000 of capital investment, with the remainder of the costs met by the registered provider and through grant funding from the Greater London Authority.
Prospective tenants will have to undergo a Care Act assessment to determine whether they are eligible to live in one of the flats. This scheme will be specifically for residents over the age of 55 who have care and support needs which cannot be met at home.
The council’s demand modelling shows that approximately 250 residents will need this type of housing in the next few years. The current four extra care schemes in the borough are already at full capacity.
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