Cumbria seeks partners for £185m care framework
Cumbria County Council is seeking “experienced and suitable partners” to establish a design-and-build framework agreement for extra care housing and supported living accommodation schemes.
The framework agreement will have two elements. Lot 1 will be used to develop sites the council already owns or is in place to take control of – sites that have already been identified as having the potential to accommodate care facilities.
Under Lot 2, the council will ask developers to seek new sites in specific areas where need is identified but the council has no suitable sites. Bidders may bid for one lot or both.
The contract will be for an initial four years, with two optional extension periods of two years each. Those wishing to tender must do so by 19 December 2016.
Extra care housing has emerged as an alternative to residential care over the last decade. With a wide variety of tenure, design and care options, the driving principle is that extra care offers more independence and keeps old people more active. Accommodation is usually self-contained, although support staff are on hand 24 hours a day on-site.
Supported living allows vulnerable members of society to live as independently as possible, meeting the needs of groups including people with mental health issues or learning disabilities.
