Woking: Sheltered housing block at risk of closure

A sheltered housing block in Surrey is at risk of closure.

Brockhill residents are to be consulted about the proposed closure of the extra care sheltered housing scheme in Goldworth Park, Woking.

To operate safely, the building requires urgent fire safety remedial works and a heating upgrade, which have a combined estimated cost of £2.75m.

Woking Borough Council said it had "done everything possible to keep the building going".

Constructed in the late 1980s, Brockhill is a purpose-built sheltered housing scheme comprising of 48 self-contained apartments.

A total of 32 flats are currently occupied.

The council says the capital investment required over the next 10 years to maintain the building is expected to exceed £5.5m, which is an "unviable and disproportionate level of investment for a building that no longer meets modern day standards".

A report will be presented to the council's executive on 14 December and will recommend closing the facility.

Ian Johnson, the council's portfolio holder for housing, said: "Regardless of our financial challenges, the required expenditure needed to keep the building safe and compliant with regulatory standards is simply unviable for the size and age of the scheme.

"Residents are very aware of the issues we've had maintaining the building and have been informed this week of our intention to close Brockhill for good.

"This was very hard news to deliver especially as some residents have lived at Brockhill since the scheme opened in 1990."

The report seeks approval to begin consulting residents, as well as their families and carers.

"We can then find them suitable alternative accommodation as soon as possible and support them fully through this process," Mr Johnson added.

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