£1m HCA Funding Boost for New Council Homes

The HCA has put £980,000 in funding towards plans for 70 new council homes in Lenton, Nottingham.  The purpose-built independent living scheme, which includes 54 flats and 16 bungalows, will form part of Nottingham City Council and Nottingham City Homes’ (NCH) plans for Lenton’s regeneration. The cash was awarded this week through the HCA’s Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund.  Each property will be built as a Code 4 Sustainable Home, offering a reduced carbon footprint and lowered energy bills for tenants. They will also meet lifetime home standards, making sure they have adequate space for wheelchairs and other adaptations that may be needed as tenants get older.  Read more on 24dash.

New Housing to Help Older and Disabled People to Live Independently

Building projects up and down the country have been given the green light to start producing homes that will support older and disabled people to live independently for as long as possible, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb has announced.  Last year the government asked local authorities to bid for a share of £300m to boost the supported housing market. The Department of Health has now allocated funding to build more than 3,500 new homes.  As part of the first phase of the Care and Support Specialised Housing scheme, the Department will now issue around £101m of this fund to the HCA, which will work with 86 successful agencies to build more than 3,000 new homes across the country. Projects are estimated to create over 1,000 new jobs. Read more on the HCA website.

Bidding on £300m Pot for Independent Living Begins

Bidding is now open for up to £240m of capital funding aiming to widen the housing options for older people and adults with disabilities, by delivering thousands of new affordable and market sale homes.  The Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund marks the first time that the HCA - which will be administering the Fund - has run such a programme on behalf of the Department of Health.  The Fund is split into two phases, focusing on affordable housing in Phase One, and market sale homes in a later second phase and run over five years from 2013/14.   The Fund calls for innovation in developing housing opportunities, asking local authorities, and developers to work collaboratively with health providers to identify the best local solutions.  This may well include using local authority land or existing health facilities to work with the fund to achieve the best value results can be achieved between, housing health, care and support.  Read more on the HCA website.