Call for cash for new care housing

12.00.00am GMT Tue 4th Nov 2008

Leeds' councillors are set to approve plans to bid for up to £271m of PFI credits from central government to spend on providing around 1,100 new Extra Care and Lifetimes houses.

Plans due to go before the council's Executive Board propose to replace, refurbish and build new properties at up to 18 different locations throughout the city. The new homes will be mixed tenure, in order to contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities and will improve choices of type of accommodation and location.

The new housing will also contribute to many of the council's other objectives. They will contribute to the regeneration of town and district centres and be built to high energy efficiency standards, contributing to a carbon reduction programme but also saving residents money.

Speaking of the paper, Cllr Alan Taylor (Lib Dem, Gipton and Harehills), representing a ward where many of the current homes are based, said:

"Many of the existing Extra Care homes in Leeds are based in and around Harehills. As a local ward councillor I would be very pleased to see these improved and refurbished, as well as hopefully see new ones built.

"Harehills has a vibrant community spirit and it is important we provide as well as we can for our elderly. If the government awards us this money we can make their lives much more comfortable."