CONTRACTS have been exchanged between West Sussex County Council and Saxon Weald homes on the sale of the former Highdown special school site in Durrington Lane, Worthing.
The council has sold the 2.42-acre site in Durrington Lane, including the Cissbury Lodge facility, to Saxon Weald homes for just under £2million.
The housing association's planned development of a 64-unit housing scheme includes 54 affordable homes, 35 of them extra care units.
Apart from the sale proceeds, the county council will also save money in the longer term by using extra care units to house people who would otherwise have to go into residential care at a considerable cost to the community.
Supported livingThe extra care scheme is aimed at the over-60s who need support to live independently.
The 54 flats will offer a mix of properties for affordable rent and shared-equity purchase.
The scheme will be fully wheelchair accessible throughout, and the self-contained flats will feature modern, fitted kitchens and level-access shower rooms.
There will be a wide range of communal facilities, which Saxon Weald hopes will encourage older people living locally to enjoy along with the residents.
Health servicesThe scheme will also offer a number of low-level preventative health services which, again, will be open to local people.
The scheme has attracted £3 million from the Housing Corporation, the government's housing regulator, while Saxon Weald is providing the majority of the remaining funding.
"We are working in close partnership with both Worthing Borough Council and West Sussex County Council to ensure we make the most of this valuable resource," said a Saxon Weald spokeswoman.
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