The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Residents could be living in a new £5.8million supported housing scheme in Spalding town centre within two years.
South Holland District Council wants to see 39 ‘dementia-friendly’ homes built on a disused plot of land which it owns in King’s Road.
The three-storey complex of 39 apartments (26 two-bedroom and 13 one-bedroom) would also include a shop, restaurant, hairdresser’s, games room and laundrette. The homes would be made available as a mix of low-cost rent and on a shared equity basis.
Lincolnshire – and South Holland in particular – are lagging behind in this “extra care housing”, according to the council’s strategic housing manager Matthew Hogan. Consequently, the council has made provision of it one of its priorities.
In order to make the scheme viable and by way of match-funding, it is proposing to sell the land to developer and non-profit making charity Lace Housing for £106,500 (about half its market value).
Project funding totalling £5.2m has been identified, with the £600,000 shortfall possibly to come from support by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership Growth Fund and a reduction in build costs.
The council hopes the build would get under way by November 2017, with the first residents in by April 2018. The scheme could create upto 12 full-time jobs, and earn £288,000 of New Homes Bonus plus £35,000 council tax per year.
The 0.57 acre plot used to be the site of an auction hall.
