Up to 30 affordable homes for older people with care needs are set to be built on the site of a former special school.
The two acre Fletcher Fold site is a long-term disused council owned brownfield site in a residential area in Redvales, Bury. The site was previously occupied by Millwood Special School which has since relocated to Radcliffe and the former school buildings were demolished in 2018
In August, Bury Council created an provider partnership to build affordable housing including specialist accommodation on council owned land.
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Those included are Six Town Housing, Great Places Housing Group, Mosscare St Vincent’s, Onward Homes, Irwell Valley Homes and Bolton at Home. Bury Council have now agreed to dispose of Fletcher Fold to one of these providers to build ‘a low carbon, specialist affordable housing scheme for older people including those with long term conditions such as a learning disability’.
The council said building specialist homes for those with care needs would generate savings to their adult social care budget.
The report to the council’s cabinet, said: “Delivery of much needed, low carbon affordable homes for older people including those with long-term conditions will reduce the need for more costly interventions and relieve pressures on housing waiting lists.
“There will be considerable benefits in health and community care with substantial savings on out of borough placements and the council’s adult social care budget.” The council has already spent a £147,000 brownfield housing grant to clear the site and make it suitable for housing.
The land needs to be developed by the end of March 2025 or the council will need to repay that grant to Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
The report added: “The new development would offer a range of modern house types for affordable rent and shared ownership, including bungalows specifically designed for those with mobility issues, to help re-balance the housing stock.
“All homes would be multifunctional to accommodate hoists where necessary, wider door frames and space for wheelchair users and walk in shower rooms, all of which can be adapted to suit need at any given time.
“This development would help set a standard for which future homes can be built, balancing cost benefits and lifestyles for residents.
“This proposal has the potential to generate significant savings to the adult social care budget, a minimum of £5,000 per unit of accommodation for out of borough placements, plus additional avoidance costs for every year that an older person continues to live independently in one of the new homes.
“It will also help prevent older people including those with a learning disability from being placed out of the borough in the future.”
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