A COMPLEX of flats that will give elderly people greater independence is to be built in Oxford after an 11th hour funding deal.

The extra care housing (ECH) development in Cowley will provide 55 flats, with 37 for rent and 18 sold on a shared ownership basis. Care staff will be on hand at all times to help residents.

Building at the Craufurd Road site is due to start this spring and should be completed by the end of next year.

The Government had previously rejected a bid for the £2.6m cost of the complex but agreed to put in £1.4m after Oxfordshire County Council said it could spend £1.2m on the scheme.

The ECH concept is an alternative to more expensive nursing home care, providing self-contained flats that can be adapted as people’s needs change.

Flats will be offered to over-55s who are on Oxford City Council's housing waiting list and need a minimum of four hours’ care each week.

The county council estimates the scheme could save it between £175,000 and £265,000 a year in care costs.

It is part of the council’s plan to save £37m from its adult social care budget over the next four years.

Council spokesman Marcus Mabberley said: “This type of housing is designed to cater for elderly people with care needs who wish to remain as independent as possible in the community, while at the same time providing a degree of support tailored to individual needs.”

As well as the flats, the complex will have shared spaces for residents and staff, including a lounge restaurant, hair salon, activity room, computer suite, guest suite, garden room and gardens and patios.

Care workers will be available on the site 24 hours a day.

Mr Mabberley added: “ECH offers a combination of housing, care and various support services all in one development. The council has set as a priority the provision of ECH as an alternative to residential care, in order to deal with the increasing cost pressures nationally of caring for older people and the demographic growth of this population.”

The homes will be built by the Oxfordshire Care Partnership, which includes Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association, the Orders of St John Care Trust and the county council The partnership has already built seven developments in Oxfordshire and two more, in Bicester and Banbury, will be completed later this year.

Planning permission has already been granted for the development.

The council estimates that 498 ECH flats will be needed in Oxford by 2031, but at present there are just 20.

A complex with 156 flats is earmarked for a site in Greater Leys.