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Ward
Question – |
Under Standing Order 14,
“In response to Spelthorne Borough Council's tender, the plan
for extra-care homes on the Benwell Day Centre site
is at a density approaching 200 per hectare, and with no amenity space. Bearing in mind that the Borough's first
extra-care development -
Councillor
“For accuracy, the actual density of the proposed Benwell Day Centre is 170 dwellings per hectare. When flats are being built they will
inevitably be at a much higher density than for houses. What also needs to be borne in mind, is that Extracare housing
is a different concept, with the key issue being that the project is built to
Department of Health Guidelines.
With respect to the amenity space, half of the flats have some form of balcony or patio and there will be a communal outdoor area which will be of high quality. In addition to the outdoor amenity space, there will also be a resident’s lounge on the ground floor.
The Beechwood Court development was a replacement for sheltered housing on an existing site. It should be noted that the facilities are not the same and Beechwood does not have a day centre for the community.
In summary, the Benwell project is for the older person. Research shows that the facility is likely to be occupied by over 75’s with differing care needs, and, as the facility will be built specifically to Department of Health Guidelines, the Benwell will not follow traditional planning guidance. Therefore, the Benwell will indeed be the Borough’s first extra care facility and will be different from sheltered housing, nursing homes and residential homes. I have no doubt that the proposed building will provide an alternative choice and will enable older people, who would not otherwise be able to do so, to live independently, in their own home with their own front door.”
In accordance with
Standing Order 14.2, Councillor Mrs C.E. Nichols asked the following
supplementary question:
“Can I take it that in future, extra care homes (as in
LDF 6) are going to be at a higher density?”
The Portfolio Holder for
Adult and Elderly Services, Councillor Mrs V.J. Leighton, responded as follows:
“The figures have been calculated by the officers. Extra
care housing is short in this part of Surrey. This is the first one. It is
noted that extra care housing has to have a core number of units to work and a
day centre element under Government guidelines. The A2 project has plans for
another facility which will have a day centre. Residents are overjoyed at the
size and amenity of the apartments afforded in this development.”