New £5.1m housing development for adults with disabilities could be built in Portsmouth

Plans have been laid out for six new properties to house residents with learning or physical disabilities on the site of a former care home in Drayton.

If approved the scheme would include four four-bedroom flats and two four-bedroom bungalows where the now demolished Highgrove Lodge in Karen Avenue used to be.

Portsmouth City Council's housing boss, Councillor Darren Sanders, believed it was an important project. He said: 'I look forward to this going ahead. It is important we provide good quality homes for adults with learning disabilities so they can lead the lives they want to lead.

'It shows this council's commitment to providing good quality accommodation for those who need it.'

It is predicted the scheme will generate annual savings to the council of around £96,256 as well as savings to the Clinical Commissioning Group of £412,000.

The savings will be made as a result of reduced care costs such as no longer paying hotel charges as well as being able to provide care to a number of people within the same home.

Trustee of disability charity Enable Activity, Jon Muller, welcomed the proposals. 'Enable Ability is delighted that Portsmouth City Council is promoting the independence of people with learning and physical disabilities by providing additional supported accommodation in the city,' he said.

'It offers the opportunity for people to realise their hopes and dreams to live independent and fulfilling lives. We congratulate the council for making this a priority and hope other schemes will follow.'

Highgrove Lodge was closed as a residential home in 2005 when it became an older person's day centre until 2008.

It is thought the new homes would be ready by 2023.

There are other supported living homes for adults in Moorings Way, in Milton, and Eastern Road. Portsmouth council is also currently out to tender on the building of 13 supported living flats for adults with disabilities on the site of the former Longdean Lodge in Paulsgrove – a scheme that was approved last year.

The Highgrove development will be funded from a combination of council cash and loans. External grant funding will also be sought.

A decision on the plans is due to be made at a housing meeting on Monday (March 23).