SERVICE charges at a housing complex for older people could be about to triple, after a decision taken by a senior councillor this week.

Sam Lisle, City of York's executive member for housing, has agreed to let housing staff start talking to people who live at Glen Lodge, Heworth, about major changes.

An extension currently being finished at the Sixth Avenue site will take the number of homes up from 42 to 69, and other changes will see the amount of support increased, and staff on site 24 hours a day to make the homes suitable for people with dementia, or high care needs.

Housing managers want to increase weekly service charges to take this into account, from the current £38 to £120. Although much of that increase would be covered by housing benefit, anybody who pays their own charges could be left paying an extra £4000 a year - or an extra £400 a year in gradual increases for 10 years, under plans to mitigate the financial hit for some.

On Monday, Cllr Lisle gave approval for staff to start talking to residents at Glen Lodge.

Supported Housing Manager Louise Waltham said no one would be pressured to leave Glen Lodge when the new charges come in, but people will be helped if they decide to move.

"We will be checking that tenants still feel it is the appropriate place for them to live," she said.

"If any tenants don't feel they need that level of service and would prefer to move they will be supported."

The "intensive housing management" at Glen Lodge will mean older people can live in their own homes for longer, she said, and it would "prevent, reduce and delay" people needing to move into residential care.

Paul Landais-Stamp, the council's housing strategy manager, said more "extra care" housing like Glen Lodge is needed for the growing number of older people in York. The number of York people over 75 is set to increase by 50 per cent by 2030, he added.