£3.8 million housing plan

2:12am Saturday 17th May 2008

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A MAJOR new sheltered housing development is intended to replace almost 70 homes for elderly people in Malvern Link.

Festival Housing, in conjunction with the district and county councils and Worcestershire Primary Care Trust, has applied for £3.8 million from the Department of Health to build a 100-unit development.

It would sit on the current site of Brookside and Glouc-ester Close, which includes Alexander Gardens, and feature a gym, well-being room, spa-pool and restaurant available to the local community.

Festival spokesman Cathy Spence said: "This is a very positive move for Malvern.

"We do not envisage any changes to the number of staff, as we will be caring for the same number of people."

The project has been time-tabled for completion by September 2011, dependant on the outcome of the bid, and the current residents would have to be moved while work is carried out.

Festival Housing holds other sheltered housing units in Malvern, including Storer Court, Williams Court and Geraldine Court but stressed any decision as to where residents would temporarily move would be up to the individual.

Alexander Gardens currently houses 39 flats catering for very sheltered' residents while Brookside and Glouc-ester Close include another 30 flats.

The outcome of the bid is expected to be known before the end of the summer.