Plans for a significant investment in Extra Care housing to support older and disabled people in Derby will be considered by Derby City Council’s Cabinet.
The proposal, which would be subject to planning permission, would see up to 90 high-quality, affordable Extra Care apartments built on land at Heron Way, between Mickleover and the Royal Derby Hospital.
Redeveloping the brownfield sites, previously Bramblebrook House and Humbleton View Day Centre, would provide purpose-built homes for older and disabled people, helping them to live independently for longer.
Extra Care Housing allows people to live within their own self-contained homes in a community setting, with access to onsite care and support. It enables couples and families to remain living together for longer and has benefits for informal carers. It has been demonstrated as effective in preventing, reducing or delaying the progression of care and support needs.
The proposals reflect the priorities of the Council’s Older People’s Housing Strategy, which sets out the Council’s approach to meet the changing housing needs of older generations within the city, and the Stronger Together into the Future Adult Social Care Strategy, which aims to enable people to stay connected to the people and places that matter to them, and remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible.
Councillor Alison Martin, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Care said:
The proposed development of Extra Care apartments on Heron Way is a major step forward in how we support older and disabled people in Derby. Extra Care housing offers independence with the reassurance that care and support are on hand if needed.
By bringing forward this scheme, we are ensuring that we continue to invest in homes that will help people to live healthy, independent, and fulfilling lives within supportive communities.
If approved, the new homes would be managed as affordable housing and let at social rent levels to ensure they are accessible to a wide range of residents. The development would be designed in line with national Design Principles for Extra Care Housing, published by the Housing Learning and Improvement Network, and shaped by feedback from people living in existing Extra Care schemes as well as representative groups for older and disabled residents.
Councillor Shiraz Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, Strategic Planning and Regulatory Services, said:
Our aim is to provide high-quality, affordable homes let at social rent levels to ensure they remain accessible to everyone in our community.
By following the national Design Principles for Extra Care Housing and directly incorporating feedback from current residents and advocacy groups for older and disabled people, we are creating a development truly shaped by the needs of those who will live there.
The scheme is subject to a future planning application and a successful application for grant funding from the Government’s £39bn Social & Affordable Homes Programme 2026–2036, delivered by Homes England. The remaining funding would come via Housing Revenue Account serviced borrowing, plus Right to Buy receipts that are ring-fenced for the purpose of providing new affordable homes.
The proposal will be discussed by Cabinet members at their meeting on Wednesday 18 March.