The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today announced a fund of up to £60 million to help boost the quality and choice of housing available for older and disabled people in the capital.

Delivered in partnership with the Department of Health, the Care and Support Specialised Housing Fund will be targeted at delivering purpose built homes that adhere to the Mayor's high standards of design as already outlined in the London Plan. The investment forms a key part of the next stage of the Mayor's 'Housing Covenant', which will improve Londoners' housing options while boosting jobs and growth in London's construction industry.

To help those with specific housing needs to live more independently and to help stimulate the specialised housing market, the Mayor is inviting bids for funding from a range of organisations that champion innovative design, accessibility and new technology. It is envisaged that the fund could help around 1,500 older and disabled Londoners.

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The Mayor is keen to work in partnership with public land owners, particularly NHS trusts, to help bring forward land for development of specialised accommodation to help reduce the burden on stretched health and care budgets. Proposals will be reviewed by a specialist panel that will feature representation from leading housing experts such as Crossbench Peer Lord Best of Godmanstone, who chaired Housing our Ageing Population: Panel for Innovation (HAPPI), and Sam Mauger, Chief Executive of Age UK London.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "Quality housing for older and disabled Londoners is in short supply and there is a pressing need to meet increasing demand. I am determined that this fund helps to deliver high quality homes that people want to live in and which reflect the diversity of their needs and aspirations. By allowing people to move to well designed, accessible homes, it will also help to give older and disabled Londoners renewed independence and dignity. I'd like to see some truly innovative proposals coming forward, ones that set new standards in design and that provide a benchmark for how this type of housing should be delivered."

(CD/GK)