Decision details

Support the development of a 20 year older peoples housing strategy.

Approve the publication of a prospectus with the aim of encouraging investment to meet the varying housing needs of older people in the city.

Approve the designation of a number of Council owned sites for older peoples provision via disposal on the open market for this purpose/or to a restricted market of Registered Providers.

Further to Minute No. 103, 19^th November 2014, the Director of Environment and Housing, the Director of City Development and the Director of Adult Social Services submitted a joint report which set out the range of housing options currently available for the growing numbers of older people in Leeds, and which aimed to ensure that they lived in accommodation which was accessible, affordable and safe. In addition, the report also presented the Council’s strategy towards ensuring that the supply of appropriate accommodation continued to increase in order to meet demand, met any gaps in current and proposed provision and looked to expand the options available in response to the diverse needs which currently existed across the city.

Members welcomed the contents of the submitted report and emphasised the significant challenge which was faced in ensuring that there was suitable accommodation provision for older people throughout the city. Members highlighted the role of private developers in the delivery of older people’s accommodation, and a request was made that wherever possible, and where the location of a site was appropriate, consideration was given to the need for new housing developments to include a proportion of dedicated housing for older people. Emphasis was also placed upon the need for new housing provision to have the capacity to be adapted as older people’s accommodation needs changed.

Furthermore, Members highlighted the evolving consultative role played by localities on such issues, with a proposal that such consultation exercises would include Ward Members, Community Committees and local Neighbourhood Forums wherever appropriate.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the strategic approach towards the growth of Older People’s Housing provision, as set out within the submitted report, which will aim to ensure that sufficient specialist housing is available to meet the individual and changing needs of the city’s older population now and in the future, be supported;

(b)  That the proposals for the publication of a prospectus to be led by the

Director of City Development for delivery in the summer in order to stimulate the commencement of a dialogue between developers and the Council as part of the wider housing growth programme with the aim of encouraging investment to meet the varying housing needs of older people in the city, be noted;

(c)  That the use of sites, as identified at paragraph 3.6.9 of the submitted report, for the delivery of specialist older people’s provision, be supported.

Ward Member consultation in relation to development of sites listed at para 3.4.4 in the report.

Ward members from the following wards: Ardsley and Robin Hood, Temple Newsam, Farnley and Wortley