New housing with care development for older people in Darwen

Older people in Darwen are to benefit from a major new housing with care development.

Plans for an extra care scheme with adjacent bungalows are being developed which will improve housing choices for older people who want to continue living independently, together with care and support services to help them to do so.

The site will be developed by Twin Valley Homes in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and builders, Keepmoat.

This is a £13m investment by Blackburn with Darwen’s biggest social landlord, a member of the Together Housing Group, including £2m funding from the Homes and Communities Agency.

The scheme will be built in two phases to provide 119 new extra care and retirement living homes. The first phase will see 85, one and two bedroom apartments and outstanding facilities, including hairdressers and cafe/restaurant, to make independent living easier for older people.

In the second phase, 34 two bedroom bungalows will be built adjacent to the extra care scheme. These will be available for rent and residents will be able enjoy use of the facilities at the main extra care scheme.

This new development will be designed sympathetically to the local environment and meet the design and space standards set by the Homes and Communities Agency. It will also meet the National Police ‘Secure by Design’ standard to promote safety and security through design.

A planning application is expected to be submitted this autumn. Work is scheduled to start on site in May and is expected to take 18 months to complete.

Wendy Malone, Together Housing Group Head of Project Management, said: ““We are delighted to be working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Keepmoat to provide a superb new housing with care development for older people in Darwen. The scheme will increase the housing choices for older people who want to continue living independently, together with care and support to help them do so. The new scheme at Shorey Bank will complement the Willow Gardens retirement living scheme which opened last year.”

Councillor Mohammed Khan, Executive Member for Health and Adult Social Care, said: “This is superb news for the borough and it has the potential to be another excellent facility. It has to go through the planning process but I am personally excited about the scheme.

“It’s in close proximity to Darwen town centre and has good public transport links so will have a very positive impact for the whole area.

“We need such high quality and fit for purpose housing in the borough because they enable older people to enjoy their retirement in a safe, secure and vibrant environment with superb facilities on their doorsteps. Our goal is to help more and more older people live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.”

Councillor Yusuf Jan-Virmani, Executive Member for Neighbourhood, Housing and Customer Services, said: “I am very clear on the need for good quality housing for older people in Blackburn with Darwen. This is exactly the kind of development we want to have here.”