Residents of a £12 million housing development for older people in Portsmouth have celebrated with an opening event to launch the scheme.

Milton Village in Southsea consists of three extra care schemes, each with a mix of one and two bedroom apartments specially designed to support independent living for older people. Cllr Leo Madden, Portsmouth City Council's cabinet member for health and social care, joined the celebration and presented residents with a commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

The Housing 21 development, delivered in partnership with the council and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), provides 65 apartments for rent or purchase on a shared ownership basis. These include 12 apartments in Crane Court, 16 in Osprey Court and 37 in Brent Court.

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Tayo Bilewu, director of property development for Housing 21 said: "I am delighted to be here today to celebrate the opening of Milton Village. Together with Portsmouth City Council we’re creating environments that enable people to achieve a good quality later life by allowing them to live independently with help on hand. This is why extra care is an increasingly popular choice."

Kevin Bourner, HCA Head of Area, added: "This scheme is great news for Southsea, and for local people who will benefit from high quality, affordable housing that is specifically designed and equipped to meet their individual needs.

"More people are living longer in this country, and that makes it important for us to work to deliver the right type of housing to meet the long-term needs of residents and enable them to have independent lives. This scheme is a testament to the hard work of partners involved in the project and I am really pleased that local people are benefitting from the investment we have made."

Housing 21 has also been selected as preferred bidder for the development of three more extra care schemes in Portsmouth, totalling 180 units.

(CD)