Cannock Extra Care scheme lifts off

The Lakeside Extra Care scheme will include 83 apartments, of which 70 will be available for rent and 13 for part rent – part buy. There will also be two communal lounges, a dining area, hairdressing salon and sensory garden.

To mark the occasion the Bill Martin OBE, Chair of Housing Plus, ceremonially broke the ground to officially start the build. He was accompanied by representatives of Staffordshire County Council, Cannock Chase District Council and Wates Living Space, the partners in the project.

Extra Care housing enables people aged 55 and over to live independently in their own apartment with the added security of CCTV, door entry systems and for those that need it, staff on site 24 hours a day to provide support and personal care.

Housing Plus will be developing the site and the completed scheme will be managed by South Staffordshire Housing Association, the founding member of the group.

Bill Martin, Chair of Housing Plus said: "We are pleased to be able to start this project and to work with Staffordshire County Council and Cannock Chase District Council to deliver excellent quality affordable housing for older people in the area."

County Councillor Susan Woodward, county council Cabinet Member for Healthier Communities and Older People said: "I am a keen champion of older people and I am delighted that this Extra Care facility is getting started.  It will provide much needed facilities to take older people’s housing into the 21st Century."

Cannock Town Centre County Councillor Dennis Dixon said: "I am really pleased to see this Extra Care development start on site. It will make a real difference to the provision of care and support that older people living in the Cannock area receive."