Transcript Intro title

Innovative Housing Provision for Older People
Can our existing stock help?
Chris Miller
Director of Business Development
Background to Viridian
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Servite Houses - 1945
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Manage approx 16,000 homes in London, South East and East/West Midlands
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Diverse range from General Needs, Shared Ownership, Retirement Housing,
Supported Housing, Care/Nursing, Student/Key worker
Retirement portfolio – 70 schemes from Assisted Living/Sheltered to Extra Care and
Active Older People
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Schemes built in the 70’s/80’s – smaller 1 bedroom and self contained bed-sits
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Mid life crisis!
A sector problem
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Various studies (Sector/LA) – older retirement stock will not meet the future needs of
older people
Small; Not easy to adapt; limited scope to extend and redevelop; poor design quality –
not aspirational
Re-modelling can be an option – various studies different views – expensive with
compromise in standards compared to new build
Redevelopment causes impairment issue – write down of costs and grant held in the
ground
Re-housing older people is difficult and not popular unless scheme has severe voids
etc – difficult to take a proactive approach to re-model/redevelop a scheme that is still
viable in the short term
Case Study
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Converting a tower block (hostel) into
Retirement/Extra Care flats
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Strategically in the right place –
identified need
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Close to amenities
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Use of existing concrete frame – stair
core and lift shafts
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Re-clad - high insulation – improve
curb appeal
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Re-configure floors to 4 flats 1& 2
bedroom 50m2 to 70m2 – ground floor
hub
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Case Study
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Cost effective (capital) – Viridian own the land
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Affluent area – cross subsidy – minimum grant required
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Realistic view of required communal facilities – hub approach
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Transient client group – easier to facilitate development
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Not totally HAPPI
Callender Court in Gateshead
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Council owned multi-storey converted
to Extra Care
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Clusters of four flats to a floor and
ground floor extension with communal
facilities
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Edge of large estate
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Re-housed general needs residents
(void issues)
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Stripped back to frame and re-clad/roof
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Grant funded (2006/7)
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High levels of satisfaction –
safe/secure – worked well for residents
with memory problems
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Summary
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Can our existing stock help?
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Look at wider stock in an area
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Work in partnership – be open to ideas
Thank you and questions