Eden Futures revealed solid plans for new developments at the start of 2020, building on 2019 when it opened seven more supported living services. The coronavirus pandemic placed significant challenges on this; however, as David Whittock, director of service development, says – Eden Futures is now returning to its expansion strategy and looking forward with some certainty on the horizon.
He comments: “As we return to more normal working patterns in the knowledge that coronavirus is here to stay for some time, there remains a need for more specialist supported living services to be built in communities.
“We’ve helped many people to live in their own home in the community, currently some 650 people across 167 sites, by working alongside them and their relatives with the cooperation of developers, commissioners, landlords and health professionals.
“Our plans to invest see the opening of our first service in Stoke and we’ve welcomed our first resident. Earlier in the year we opened a new service to complement our existing presence in Nottingham city. This was achieved by working in collaboration with Nottingham and Stoke City Council and Hilldale Housing Association.
“We also have four schemes under construction in Hull, Chesterfield, Nuneaton and Derby City and are discussing new sites in the West Midlands and Yorkshire with local authorities and housing providers. Across the four developments we’re creating 135 full time jobs.”
Eden Futures’ Hull development, which is due for completion towards the end of 2020, includes 13 apartments and eight specialist bungalows. In Derby city, 12 apartments and three specialist bungalows are coming onstream., whilst in Chesterfield, six apartments and specialist bungalows are being built, with a due date of spring 2021.
Mr Whittock continues: “Despite this uncertain period, we do now have some certainty. This sustained investment is important so that people with learning disabilities, mental ill health and autism can live in appropriate settings and receive the care and support they need. We continue to work closely with the NHS, developers, and registered housing providers to achieve this, to meet growing demand and reduce the number of people detained in unsuitable accommodation.”
