AROUND £4.6 million is set to be invested in better homes for the elderly in the Stroud district.

At a meeting of Stroud District Council’s housing committee on Monday evening, councillors voted to improve and modernise sheltered housing to better meet the needs of older people.

Currently there are almost 800 homes in 29 sheltered housing schemes which cater specifically for those over 65 or vulnerable people in Stroud district.

A review commissioned by the council found that 80 per cent of these sheltered properties in the district were in a good condition, or had the potential to be so, once renovated.

These properties will see work take place over the next two to three years, including improving communal, lounge and garden facilities, the creation of scooter stores, improving car parking and lift installation where available.

Whilst the vast amount of housing schemes are set to be upgraded, the other 20 per cent were judged not meet modern standards are set to be decommissioned in phases over the next 10 years.

SDC assured residents that affected tenants will be moved into alternative properties while work is underway.

It said it would take action to minimise disruption to particularly frail and vulnerable tenants, allowing for a smooth transition into their new home.

Ringfield Close in Nailsworth and Willow Road and Burdett House in Stonehouse are among six schemes set to be decommissioned as older people’s housing.

Mattie Ross, chairman of SDC’s housing committee, said: “This is good news for the future provision of homes for people aged 55 years old and over.

“The plans will ensure that all areas of the sheltered housing schemes are easily accessible with lifts and ramps installed where needed. “Unpopular bedsits will be phased out and there will be more parking, along with storage and charging facilities for mobility scooters.

“Communal areas will be designed to be more inviting and gardens more easily accessible for those who are less mobile. Homes will also be made more energy efficient.

Cllr Ross added: “Obviously implementing the changes will cause quite a bit of inconvenience to some of our current tenants.

“Some may even need to be rehoused, but we will be in close contact with them to minimise any disruption. Ultimately they will end up with better homes and hopefully the inconvenience will be worth it.”

But other councillors raised concerns about the potential effects of the work could have on elderly tenants.

Cllr Gordon Craig (Con, Berkeley) approved of the plans, but warned the work would prove a “huge disruption to people’s lives.”

“Make no mistake about it – this is life and death stuff for people of that age,” he said.

The finer details of the project, such as the time frame, will be considered by councillors at a future meeting.