David Lewis has a dilemma, but it’s the kind you don’t mind having. He’s got his own flat in Lingham Court, a sheltered development in London’s Stockwell, and it’s so spacious he doesn’t know what furniture to choose.

David moved to the new Metropolitan Housing Partnership scheme from a care centre nearby. There he had only a room with a small bathroom. “My furniture just about fitted in there,” he says. “Now I have a flat – a nice sized bedroom, lounge, very nice bathroom and kitchen. I don’t know what to get now!”

A big bonus for David is to be able to cook in the new place. His biggest dislike of the care centre was the food, but now with his own cooker, fridge freezer and fully equipped kitchen he can have what he wants, when he wants. “I’m trying to teach myself to cook a bit more,” he says.

Lingham Court comprises 30 rented extra care sheltered apartments for frail older people, and 46 are private homes that were sold to pay for the sheltered scheme. It is built in two crescents, with a dramatic ‘egg tower’ at one end offering penthouse living. MHT says it is ideal for high-density urban living, being close to all amenities and good transport links.

In fact, it is so close to the Victoria underground line that the local authority imposed strict weight restrictions on the buildings. That prompted MHT and its architects to use a variety of modern construction methods, including off-site manufactured bathroom pods that are simply lowered into place. Prefabricatedlight gauge steel panels form the floors and load-bearing walls, yet the buildings have a warm, friendly appearance with extensive use of external wood panelling.

David says he is well settled in his new home. Once a week a support assistant comes to help out. “They visit to see I’m alright and if I want any support with tasks to help promote my independence. If they haven’t seen me in the day they’ll get on the internal phone system and give me a call.”

A big part of MHT’s philosophy is to ensure its schemes are useful to the wider community and promote social links. There are exercise classes, films, bingo and so on that other locals, including Stockwell’s large Portuguese community, can join in. David still visits his old pals at the care centre too. “I go over there and get their papers and cigs, that sort of thing,” he says. “I go to the exercise class here. That’s good, it’s hard work!”

MHP development manager John Tillyer admits that Lingham Court was “full of new challenges, both in funding and design”. The funding package had to ensure the scheme paid for itself through cross-subsidy from the homes for sale. John adds, “Throughout the development we worked closely with Lambeth Council and our other partners, and are delighted that we succeeded in creating a prize-winning, mixed tenure development.”

MHT used its experience of developing this type of scheme and its understanding of what residents want and need to create an environment that would give maximum independence while providing the right level of support.

The MHT team brought in a range of design touches, such as fully height-adjustable kitchens, that make everyday tasks like making a cup of tea much easier. Resident Ray Lewis certainly appreciates it. “It’s very plush and the employees take such good care of us. I also like the fact the under-floor heating means I step onto a lovely warm floor when I get out of bed in the morning!” he says.

Find out more www.mhp-online.co.uk

openfacts
An ageing society

The Communities and Local Government department and the Housing Corporation are currently developing and updating their strategies for ensuring older people have the housing, care and quality of life choices they want.

The Housing Corporation will aim to:

• invest in schemes that provide quality and control to older people as they seek to live independently, maintain their tenancies and enjoy a good quality of life;
• respond to and support the local authority’s role to identify demand and offer choice to older people;
• encourage the provision of support services to older people living in general needs housing and therefore promoting independence and social inclusion;
• support and promote measures that empower people to exercise choice and control including, where relevant, the purchase of their own support and care services;
• support housing associations to improve the services provided to BME elders;
• seek to simplify arrangements for providing adaptations that can help older people to remain in their own homes; and
• explore how planning, ‘exceptions’ rules and growth areas can better serve the needs of older people.

In particular, the Corporation supports the development of ‘lifetime neighbourhoods’ and age-friendly cities that cater for people’s needs as they grow older.