Talks start over future of sheltered housing (From The Northern Echo)

Talks start over future of sheltered housing

4:51pm Thursday 9th February 2012 in Spennymoor News

ELDERLY residents of sheltered housing schemes are being consulted over plans for the future of their homes.

Social housing company Livin is reviewing the state of its 13 sheltered housing projects across the former Sedgefield borough.

Livin, previously Sedgefield Borough Homes which took over social housing responsibilities from the old borough council in 2009, has began a six week consultation period with residents.

It is looking at Grayson Grange, Butterby Grange and King William Grange, in Spennymoor; Cleves Cross Grange and Dean Bank Grange, in Ferryhill; Simpasture Court, Gilpin Court and White House, in Newton Aycliffe, along with West Close, Shildon; Thurston Grange, West Cornforth; Rosewood Grange, Chilton; Thurlow Grange, Sedgefield, and Tremeduna Grange, in Trimdon.

Different options are being considered for each scheme and range from demolishing and redeveloping sites for new affordable homes to complete remodelling.

Bosses said the move follows a drop in demand for sheltered housing as more people choose to move into family homes with social care.

Livin has guaranteed that no tenant will be made homeless.

Measures in place to support those potentially affected include giving them rehousing priority, compensation, a free removal service and help to transfer utility bills and care services.

Alan Boddy, an executive director at livin, said: "Rest assured, our team will be listening very carefully to tenants’ views.

"We fully appreciate the sensitivities when discussing the future of someone’s home and understand proposals may not be welcomed by all tenants.

"No decision will be made about the proposals until the consultation period has closed and all tenants will be given every opportunity to have their say on the proposals."

Mr Boddy said on average 30 per cent of livin’s sheltered housing schemes are empty and some are currently more than 50 per cent unoccupied- figures expected to increase in coming years.

He said some units had been advertised for up to 121 weeks consecutively without any enquiries from the general public.

All tenants in the affected schemes have been written to and they will be met on a one to one basis to allow the proposals to be discussed.

Each tenant will receive information setting out the detail and how they can register their views for the board of livin to consider.

The consultation runs until May 20 with a final decision on each scheme expected to be made before June.