More supported homes are on the horizon for Cornwall

Cornwall Council have proposed plans to provide hundreds of improved homes for the most vulnerable residents by 2050.

On 11^th October the new strategy was given the greenlight by the council’s health and adult social care scrutiny committee and will now be presented to the Conservative cabinet for it’s approval so the work can start.

However, one councillor from the local authority has urged caution and said that in the ‘real world’ the council is still unable to address current issues let alone extra care accommodation.

Reasons for the council coming up with this new plan is partly in response to the Regulatory Oversight Bill which received royal assent in June and is expected to go live in 2025.

One of the requirements of the delivery of the Act is the development and the publication of a Supported Housing Strategy – councils are expected to publish a supported housing needs assessment for residents.

The council heard the future housing need for Cornwall up to 2050 breaks down into the following:

• 31,727 units of accessible/adapted homes
• 5,610 retirement/sheltered housing
• 3,880 extra care housing
• 2,901 nursing home beds
• 2,115 fully wheelchair adapted homes
• 825 residential care beds
• 650 units for people with learning difficulties/autism
• 355 for people with mental health needs and 195 for complex homeless needs
• 177 for vulnerable young people
• 91 for drug/alcohol needs and 48 for people on probation
• 39 for young parents
• 32 for people experiencing domestic abuse

Cllr Andy Virr, Cornwall Council cabinet member for adults and public health, said: ‘It is important that we have housing available that can meet the needs of all of Cornwall’s population. We recognise that for some people this can be hard to access and this plan seeks to address this challenge.’

He added: ‘It’s very important to sign off the Supported Housing Strategy and the Implementation Plan to make sure we tackle the demand for these types of housing right now to make sure people are getting the support they need. We need to move away from the more institutional models of care and support and the financial impact this is putting on the council’s budget.’

Although, cllr Loveday Jenkin said during the meeting: ‘I think this is very good and I’d like to see it delivered, but we have to live in the real world here and we’re not even delivering for our ordinary needs let alone our extra care needs at the moment.’

Image: Darren Welsh