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The Better
Homes Active Lives Housing Private Finance Initiative is a
multi- million pound project which will be one of the
largest of its type in the country.
The contract was signed in October 2007 for a £72million project
to build stunning modern apartments for older and disabled people
in Kent.
After 12 months of negotiations, Housing 21, a major national
provider of housing, care and support services for older people
signed a deal for a partnership between Kent County Council and 10
district and borough councils in the county to build and run a
total of 340 apartments. Work will start on 275 extra care
apartments for older people with support available 24 hours a day
if necessary, 58 supported flats for people with a learning
disability and seven for people with mental health problems.
The extra care apartments will provide a genuine alternative to
residential care, giving older people access to as much support as
if they were in a care home so that they can remain independent,
even if they become frail, disabled or confused. Support for people
with a learning disability or for people with mental health needs
will focus on assisting them to live as independently as
possible.
The entire £72million building costs will be met by PFI credits
from central Government. It is anticipated that all the apartments
will be finished and ready to move into, or already in use, by
2010.
Brendan Ryan, Head of Community Services, Thanet District
Council said:"Thanet is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the
South East with a disproportionate number of vulnerable and elderly
residents requiring specialist housing. We desperately need more
specialist accommodation for a whole range of client groups.
"However developing new supported housing for vulnerable people
has become increasingly difficult in recent years with the need to
align site acquisition, capital funding with a commitment to future
revenue funding.
"The Better Homes Active Lives Project has delivered new
supported housing on a scale that a district council working alone
could never achieve. Undertaking PFI schemes of this complexity is
beyond the capacity and resources of councils like Thanet.
"KCC are to be commended for having the vision for a project on
this scale and making it happen. The expertise and professionalism
of the KCC team has made the process relatively straightforward for
smaller councils like Thanet and while there have been some very
difficult points in the project, the spirit of true partnership has
prevailed to ensure that solutions have been found.
"Everyone involved in Better Homes Active Liveshas learnt a lot
about partnership working in complex projects.We have transferred
this learning to other partnership projects including the Kent wide
choice based lettings project that is being led by
Thanet." |