Extra Care housing scheme for over 55s event

People will have a chance to find out about plans for a new Extra Care housing scheme for the over 55s next week.

Exeter City Council is holding a drop in event to allow neighbouring residents to discuss the specialist housing scheme at Millbrook Lane. The information day will be held on Tuesday (8 December) in the Main Hall of Isca College of Media Arts, Earl Richards Road South, between 4pm and 7.30pm.

The City Council will be looking to submit a planning application in the New Year to build an Extra Care scheme for people aged over 55. Extra Care is a housing solution for older people who have a range of care needs. It offers the freedom to continue to live independently in self-contained flats with care and support available on site as and when needed. The proposal also contains a range of communal facilities some of which will be available to the wider community to use.

The proposed new development on Millbrook Lane is planned to sit between the existing Millbrook Retirement Village and the 'City Glade' Linden Homes development, and will provide 53 homes. The development will be built to the low energy Passivhaus standard to help tackle fuel poverty and make the homes affordable for tenants.

The Council will be displaying further information regarding the proposed development at the drop in event. Local residents have been invited, and anyone interested in the plans is welcome to attend. There is level access into the Main Hall at Isca College of Media Arts, located off Earl Richards Road South.

There will be feedback forms available at the event for visitors to leave their comments and there will be Council Officers and representatives from the Development Team available to answer any questions on the proposed scheme.

This event does not form part of the planning consultation process, and if a planning application is submitted for the site there will be a further chance for local residents to make comments as part of that process.

Councillor Rob Hannaford, Lead Councillor for the Housing Revenue Account, said: “We are delighted to share the plans for this exciting new scheme with local residents. Our focus is on providing exceptional standards of housing, designed to be low energy, affordable and with the tenant’s experience at the heart of it. Specialist older persons’ housing is desperately needed to assist with downsizing and provide a supportive structure to allow older tenants to retain their independence as well as remaining firmly connected to the community they reside in.”