Wokingham Borough Council commitment to older people
0A new extra care housing scheme for older people in Woodley is to be considered by Wokingham Borough Council’s decision-making executive, on January 30.
In 2012, the borough council took the decision to close Fosters Care Home in Woodley, but pledged its commitment to look at using the site for older people’s accommodation. The site has been vacant since residents successfully moved to alternative accommodation, and the borough council has been busy planning specialist housing for older people in the area.
f agreed by the executive, the new scheme would provide affordable accommodation for frail elderly and those suffering from dementia. All residents would have their own apartments, with private balcony or terrace, as well as communal features including assisted bathroom, lounge, dining room, hobby room and accommodation for guests to stay over.
It is proposed that Wokingham Housing Limited would be the council’s development partner and by working in partnership with them, it means the site would remain under the ownership of the council. Optalis, the council’s wholly owned care company, would be the care provider for the scheme.
The council has bid for funding (£1.45million) to the Homes and Communities agency and hopes to hear this month (January) if this has successful. It has also allocated £4million to this project.
If agreed by the executive, a planning application for the scheme would be submitted in the spring.