MILLIONS of pounds of Government grant money is to help plans to improve housing for older people in York.

The city council has learnt is will soon get £850,000 from the Government to help with an extension planned at the extra care complex at Glen Lodge in Heworth, while the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust is getting £4.9 million for its plans for Red Lodge in New Earswick.

The money will help create 156 new purpose built homes for older people - 27 at Glen Lodge and 129 in New Earswick.

Cllr Carol Runciman, City of York's executive member for adult social care said: "I’m pleased that the need for additional accommodation for older people in York has been recognised nationally.

"This grant will help further our plans to create purpose-built, flexible accommodation that will enable older people in the city to retain their independence as long as possible, remaining in their own communities, but also to receive care and support if and when their needs change."

York Press:

An artist's impression of the New Lodge plans

The homes have been specially designed for people with complex care needs like dementia, and a council spokesman said the grants mark a "significant step forward" in providing better older persons’ accommodation in York.

York’s population of people aged 75 and older expected to rise by 50 per cent by 2030, according to council figures, and extending the extra care - or sheltered housing - provision at Glen Lodge and at Auden House off Cemetery Road, is part of the plans to modernise accommodation for older people in the city.

Glen Lodge's extension will see 25 new flats constructed as well as two new bungalows and was given planning permission in February this year. The complex has also seen its extra care provision of care and support for residents extended from 7am to 11pm to 24 hours, seven days a week.

In New Earswick, the JRHT submitted a planning application for a 175 bed care complex in spring last year. The Trust is still waiting for a planning decision to be made by the city council, but a spokesman the £4.9 million grant would find 129 of the proposed homes which fulfil certain criteria as extra care units.