A feature of 'Ringmer Out and About'. 

20th February 2008   From a Press Release by East Sussex County Council.

 

£39m Age Well homes come a step closer

 

The process to find the company which will design, build and operate four specialist residential homes for holder people in East Sussex has begun today.

 

'Age Well,' the name of this multimillion-pound PFI project, has already received planning permission for each of its chosen sites, in Hastings, Ringmer, Uckfield and Westfield.  Now, by inviting bids from across Europe, East Sussex County Council hopes to find a partner capable of designing, constructing and managing the buildings over the next 25 years.

 

At the heart of the £39m project is the desire to create specialist residential services -  centres of excellence - for those older people who can no longer live on their own.  For example, depending on an individual's needs this might include intensive nursing or respite care.  The design of each home will therefore have to take into account the changing needs of its residents, in order to be sustainable in the long-term.

 

Each home will also need to promote social inclusion, bringing in the local community and helping resident to feel part of the wider society where they live.  Design proposals for the fours homes will be shown to nearby residents and stakeholders as part of this process, to ensure the finished buildings enhance the local area.  All comments will be warmly received, and used to inform the council's final decision.

 

Cllr Bill Bentley, who champions the rights of Older People within the county, stated:"With the search for a contractor underway, Age Well homes will each take 44 - 48 residents, with the Westfield and Hastings sites also offering day services to local people.  Once a contractor has been chosen, building of the homes will follow a phased schedule.  Work will start in 2010, with all four sites finished and ready to open between 2011/12."

 

Notes for editors

Although modern social care focuses heavily on supporting people to live independently in their own homes, the health of an individual does not always allow this.  Age Well therefore aims to offer the very best in residential services - especially catering for people with complex and intensive needs, whom private-sector homes would be less likely to accept.

 

(Extracts from Age Well Schedule)

Contractors now have until 7th April to express interest in the project. 

Short-listing will then take place.

 

For further information please contact:

Charlotte Johnson, Tel 01273 481435

Email: charlotte.johnson@eastsussex.gov.uk