The North East, like many parts of the UK, has a lack of specialist supported housing options for older residents and those with complex care needs, making suitable housing options an increasingly important part of the housing landscape.
Jon McDonald, Head of Supported Housing at Karbon Homes, outlines Karbon’s ambitions for the delivery of more Extra Care housing across the North East and Yorkshire, along with the challenges we face in bringing new schemes to fruition.
“While many people can continue living independently with the help of adaptations and practical support in their homes, there are times when more specialist support is required. In these circumstances, Extra Care housing plays a crucial role in helping people maintain their independence and quality of life.
“Working alongside the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), through our membership in the North East Housing Partnership we’ve contributed towards the development of a comprehensive assessment of housing need across the region.
“This research has highlighted the scale of the challenge we’re facing, estimating that more than 525 extra care homes and 350 specialist homes for adults with complex needs need to be built every year to help more people live independently and reduce pressure on our region’s residential care services.
“At Karbon, we manage eight Extra Care schemes across the North East and Yorkshire, providing 357 homes that enable residents to live independent, healthy lifestyles in a spacious, modern property, with the reassurance that care and support is available should they need it.
“And to help meet the identified need, we have five new Extra Care schemes in the pipeline and several others in discussion.
“Strong partnerships with local authorities have been key in bringing the schemes we currently have under development to fruition. Whether through the provision of land or through funding support, these partnerships are ensuring our investments are made in areas where the need and demand is the greatest need.
“Next month we will be taking handover of our £31m Griffin Court Extra Care scheme in Hebburn, with residents set to start moving in in the new year.
“A partnership with South Tyneside Council, Griffin Court consists of 95 apartments, providing much-needed specialist accommodation that supports adults over the age of 18 with additional care needs, to live independently.
“Griffin Court will be followed by a second scheme in the borough, Ede Court in South Shields, which will provide a further 124 homes for the same resident group.
“Around 20% of these 219 homes are designed specifically for residents with varying stages of dementia and all aim to achieve the Sterling University Gold Standard for dementia friendly design.
“And both schemes will include activity spaces and accessible bistros/cafés, all open to the public, offering valuable shared space for residents and the wider community.
“Another Extra Care is well underway in Morpeth, Northumberland, a partnership with Northumberland County Council which is also funding a contribution to the capital costs.
“Merlay House is 84-apartment scheme designed to meet the needs of the county’s ageing population and is supporting the council’s ambitions to ensure high-quality accommodation is available for older and vulnerable people across Northumberland.
“Delivering extra care housing can be complex, with challenges around site availability, planning and scheme viability. However, our experience has proven that these barriers can be overcome through strong partnership working.
“By securing suitable sites early, accessing available government funding and working closely with local authorities to develop sustainable revenue models, it is possible to bring forward the volume of extra care housing our region needs to support an ageing population.
“The demand for Extra Care housing is only set to grow. What the sector now needs is a clear, long-term commitment from government to provide the funding and policy support required to deliver these schemes at the scale communities across the country need, as well as the ongoing care and support services that make them sustainable.”
The North East, like many parts of the UK, has a lack of specialist supported housing options for older residents and those with complex care needs, making suitable housing options an increasingly important part of the housing landscape.
Jon McDonald, Head of Supported Housing at Karbon Homes, outlines Karbon’s ambitions for the delivery of more Extra Care housing across the North East and Yorkshire, along with the challenges we face in bringing new schemes to fruition.
“While many people can continue living independently with the help of adaptations and practical support in their homes, there are times when more specialist support is required. In these circumstances, Extra Care housing plays a crucial role in helping people maintain their independence and quality of life.
“Working alongside the Housing Learning and Improvement Network (LIN), through our membership in the North East Housing Partnership we’ve contributed towards the development of a comprehensive assessment of housing need across the region.
“This research has highlighted the scale of the challenge we’re facing, estimating that more than 525 extra care homes and 350 specialist homes for adults with complex needs need to be built every year to help more people live independently and reduce pressure on our region’s residential care services.
“At Karbon, we manage eight Extra Care schemes across the North East and Yorkshire, providing 357 homes that enable residents to live independent, healthy lifestyles in a spacious, modern property, with the reassurance that care and support is available should they need it.
“And to help meet the identified need, we have five new Extra Care schemes in the pipeline and several others in discussion.
“Strong partnerships with local authorities have been key in bringing the schemes we currently have under development to fruition. Whether through the provision of land or through funding support, these partnerships are ensuring our investments are made in areas where the need and demand is the greatest need.
“Next month we will be taking handover of our £31m Griffin Court Extra Care scheme in Hebburn, with residents set to start moving in in the new year.
“A partnership with South Tyneside Council, Griffin Court consists of 95 apartments, providing much-needed specialist accommodation that supports adults over the age of 18 with additional care needs, to live independently.
“Griffin Court will be followed by a second scheme in the borough, Ede Court in South Shields, which will provide a further 124 homes for the same resident group.
“Around 20% of these 219 homes are designed specifically for residents with varying stages of dementia and all aim to achieve the Sterling University Gold Standard for dementia friendly design.
“And both schemes will include activity spaces and accessible bistros/cafés, all open to the public, offering valuable shared space for residents and the wider community.
“Another Extra Care is well underway in Morpeth, Northumberland, a partnership with Northumberland County Council which is also funding a contribution to the capital costs.
“Merlay House is 84-apartment scheme designed to meet the needs of the county’s ageing population and is supporting the council’s ambitions to ensure high-quality accommodation is available for older and vulnerable people across Northumberland.
“Delivering extra care housing can be complex, with challenges around site availability, planning and scheme viability. However, our experience has proven that these barriers can be overcome through strong partnership working.
“By securing suitable sites early, accessing available government funding and working closely with local authorities to develop sustainable revenue models, it is possible to bring forward the volume of extra care housing our region needs to support an ageing population.
“The demand for Extra Care housing is only set to grow. What the sector now needs is a clear, long-term commitment from government to provide the funding and policy support required to deliver these schemes at the scale communities across the country need, as well as the ongoing care and support services that make them sustainable.”
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