Sanctuary Group to build Basildons first extra care scheme
Leading UK housing provider Sanctuary Group is set to build Basildon’s first extra care scheme.
Working in partnership with Essex County Council, Basildon District Council and NHS South West Essex, Sanctuary is building a state-of-the-art 65 apartment development to meet the housing and care needs of Basildon’s increasing ageing population.
The scheme is being built by built on behalf of Sanctuary Group by specialist social housing contractor Bramall Construction on the site of Shaftesbury Court, a dated sheltered housing development on Rectory Road in the Pitsea/Northlands Park area of Basildon, which was recently demolished.
Sanctuary’s extra care schemes provide an alternative to conventional care homes, where residents have their own flats in an established community and, as their needs increase over time so too can the levels of care and support provided. For many it can mean a ‘home for life’.
Mark Newstead, Sanctuary’s Head of Development (Care) said: “Our schemes are designed to enable people to retain their independence and privacy, with the peace of mind that there is a dedicated team of staff on hand 24 hours a day.
“Our schemes have fantastic communal facilities which enable our residents to be part of a thriving close knit community. The new development will be very much part of the wider community and will be a facility for local people to access a wide range of services.”
Forty six of the flats will be for rent, 15 will be sold on a shared ownership basis and four will be used by the NHS South West Essex as re-ablement flats, to support people to gain their independence following a stay in hospital before they return home.
Each flat will have its own front door, a lounge, kitchen and en suite shower room. Some ground floor flats will have French doors leading out to the gardens and other upper floor flats will have balconies. All of the flats and communal areas will be wheelchair accessible and homes can be fitted with Telecare sensors, a technology which provides additional peace of mind by immediately alerting the on-site care team should a resident get into difficulty.
There will also be state-of-the-art communal facilities, including large, beautifully furnished lounges, a restaurant, gym, beauty room, entertainment room, computer suite, café, small shop, laundry, assisted bathrooms, landscaped gardens, an allotment zone, potting shed and ample car parking.
There will be a dedicated care team on site 24 hours a day, with care packages tailored to residents’ individual needs and wishes.
Councillor David Finch, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Adults Health and Community Wellbeing said: "The extra care scheme is an exciting development for Basildon's elderly community. It is important that we protect our vulnerable residents and the new purpose built scheme will bring security and support while at the same time allowing independence for those living there."
Councillor Frank Tomlin, Basildon Council's Cabinet Member for Housing, added: "Sanctuary Group can be assured that we warmly welcome this scheme, which will help to meet a real and growing need in Basildon district."
It is estimated that the entire project will cost in the region of £11 million, with a £5.3million grant secured from the Department of Health through a joint bid between Sanctuary Group, Essex County Council, Basildon District Council and NHS South West Essex. The remaining funding has been provided by Sanctuary Group. The project is due for completion at the beginning of next year.