Decision details
Update on The Future of Walker Grange
Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Housing and Built Environment
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: Yes
Purpose:
On 15 November 2021, following a period of
consultation, Cabinet took the decision to look at upgrading Walker
Grange to ensure it is fit for purpose to provide Extra Care
Housing and to meet the changing needs of older people including
those living with dementia.
Improving the environment and standards of the building at Walker
Grange gives an opportunity to provide support to people with
varying levels of dementia with a higher level of care. We envisage
this would require the layout of the building to be altered to
include creation of links between existing communal areas &
flatted accommodation and a safe and secure external environment
for people with dementia who “walk with purpose”. Those
options will be subject to a further report to Cabinet setting out
a detailed implementation plan and the allocation of requisite
financial resources.
In the short term using already agreed financial resources and
delivery routes, new works are proposed that will benefit the
existing residents and enable void flats to be brought in to
use.
We would recommend progressing with essential maintenance and
improvements including upgrading Mechanical & Electrical
Systems, Lifts, refurbishment to decorations & floor finishes
throughout as well as some building fabric maintenance. This will
ensure the facility remains fit for purpose in the short to medium
term.
In addition, there are 16 void flats, 6 of which are being held for
remodelling.
It is proposed that void flats not currently refurbished to a
lettable standard will be re configured to an open plan
environment, (remove wall between kitchen to lounge and reposition
front doors) to provide an open plan area for easier access and to
improve resident mobility.
This would then become the standard for future voids in the
buildings and following consultation with existing residents the
work could be rolled out to all current occupied flats.
While the total cost of this initial phase of work could exceed
£1m slightly it is proposed that much of that cost would be
met from existing HRA resources that have already been agreed at
Cabinet.
We will look to use finances and delivery routes already being used
for voids, flooring contracts, lift maintenance and replacement,
mechanical and electrical systems.
Residents have been kept updated through ongoing consultation and
any alterations to flat layouts will be showcased to local
residents before any final decision on remodelling existing
units.
Decision:
that Phase One of work to update Walker Grange
as outlined be commenced.
Reasons for the decision:
To improve the experience of existing
residents at Walker Grange and bring voids in to use for the
benefit of new residents. The long term voids also constitute rent
loss to the HRA.
Alternative options considered:
More major redesign and refurbishment of
Walker Grange has been discussed but this would require major
investment and will be revisited in the future with Adult Social
Care. That investment would be subject to a Cabinet
decision.
Publication date: 19/10/2022
Date of decision: 19/10/2022
Effective from: 26/10/2022