HRABP - Draft 8 - Flipbook - Page 34
specialist accommodation such as
extra care housing or residential
care.
Conversely the number of over 65’s
within both districts is above the national
average (26% of the population for
Waveney and 27% for Suffolk Coastal
against an English average of 17%). In the
recent Waveney SHMA (Strategic Housing
Market Assessment) the number of over
65’s is projected to increase by a further
11,000 by 2031 with a projected increase
in need of 1,197 (+102%) for specialist
older persons accommodation by 2036. All
this data highlights a consistent message
that specialist housing demand is likely
to increase. There is also a wider need to
provide housing that older people want
to live in and help release larger family
housing.
Future investment in Retired Living schemes
or alternatives is currently the subject of
a review to set a new East Suffolk policy.
Options being considered include:
•
Remodelling and updating existing
Retired Living schemes.
•
’De-commissioning’ some schemes
that have experienced long term
problems with letting. These
schemes may still have value to
alternative client groups, with
investment. For example, Suffolk is
significantly worse than the English
average
at
meeting
the
accommodation needs of people
with learning disabilities.
•
New developments that respond to
the expectations of large numbers of
older owner occupiers seeking good
quality housing which is sustainably
designed. New developments may
need to include new build for sale,
leasehold and shared ownership to
meet the range of need.
•
New social housing developments
targeting older people providing
34 East Suffolk HRA Business Plan 2018 - 2048
accessible accommodation close to
local facilities
•
New provision of Extra Care
sheltered schemes via purpose built
development or well considered
redevelopment of existing stock.
The future investment by the HRA in
Retired Living schemes or alternatives will
seek to meet the demands and aspirations
of a growing elderly population. Future
review of the Business Plan will include cost
modelling for the implementation of the
recommendations of the Review.
5. Fire safety and security of
housing stock
The impact of the fire at Grenfell Tower in
2017 is still being felt by social and private
landlords across the country. The Council
owns only one high rise block – St Peters
Court in Lowestoft. This 15 storey building
has always had fire prevention work but
the effects of Grenfell Tower have focussed
attention on the building and the fire
preventative measures in place. Significant
investment is being made on additional fire
safety measures during 2018. These costs
are included in 2018 annual budgets within
the Business Plan.
The Government inquiry into the Grenfell
Tower fire will report in 2018 and if there are
further recommendations, which indicate
additional works may be required, the cost
implications will be accounted for at the
annual review of the HRA.
Longer term, a series of fire risk assessments
is scheduled across all our housing stock
of three storeys or higher with communal
stairwells. It is not expected that significant
additional expenditure is likely to be
incurred as these buildings have solid
unfurnished stairwells with no combustible
materials. Recommendations from the Fire
Risk Assessment will be prioritised and
budget provision included within annual
HRA expenditure budgets.
