Plans for Spalding's £20million Castle Sports Complex bid include health and wellbeing hub and housing

Plans for a ‘health and wellbeing hub’ along with specialist housing have been included as part of £20 million South Holland Levelling Up bid.

South Holland District Council is applying for Government funding to transform the Castle Sports Complex with the addition of a 3G pitch, new swimming pool and adventure zone, in a bid to improve health and wellbeing in the area.

The council has released further details on its plans for a community and wellbeing hub along with housing to help elderly residents live independently.

Coun Nick Worth, deputy leader and portfolio holder for people, places, economy, said: “When we talk about new leisure and sport facilities the focus can often be on families and young people, but we want to ensure that this bid, if successful, can have a significant and transformative impact on as many of our residents as possible.

“We know that there is an increasing demand and desire for extra care housing, which allows people to maintain their independence whilst receiving the support they need. Being able to address this need as part of this exciting project, whilst also creating a plethora of new facilities to support their wellbeing moving forwards, would be a fantastic opportunity for the district and our tenants.”

The hub plans will include community rooms and space dedicated for use to provide health and wellbeing services.

The council’s bid could include space for the co-location of other health and wellbeing facilities, including services to support with mental health, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and dementia support.

The facilities could also include two multi-use community rooms suitable for use by the community, charities and primary care organisations.

The application will also include specialist accommodation designed for older people to help them continue to live independently.

Similar to sheltered housing, it offers additional help with personal care and household chores alongside care, making it suitable for those who need varying degrees of assistance to live independently.

Consultations and work with partner organisations has highlighted the need for more provision of this kind of housing in the South Holland area.

By creating this additional housing alongside the new leisure facilities, tenants could have easier access to local facilities and amenities in support of their health and wellbeing, helping them to create a community around the site.

The council is working alongside a range of partners to prepare the bid ahead of the July deadline, including Lace Housing, NHS Lincolnshire including the local Primary Care Networks, Lincolnshire CVS and other local health and wellbeing charities.

LACE Housing Association has been working alongside the Council since 2015 to identify potential sites and carry out a supported housing review in South Holland as part of its Housing with Extra Care Strategy.

Jacqui Bunce, Programme Director for Strategic Estates, Partnerships and Planning at Lincolnshire Integrated Care System, said: “This proposal by South Holland District Council is an excellent example of how an innovative and integrated approach can have real demonstrable benefits for those in our community who need access to support.

“If this bid is successful, we could see this site being transformed into a multi-use and fully combined health and wellbeing hub under one roof that will serve the district for many years to come.”

Nick Chambers, Chief Executive Officer of LACE Housing Association, supported the bid and the importance of more Housing with Extra Care, saying: “We are delighted to support South Holland District Council’s bid for Levelling Up funding, that will help create more of this excellent housing provision that helps residents to remain independent and as an active part of their local community.

“The bid would enable a huge step forward in health and wellbeing in the District, and will substantially improve sports and recreational facilities, creating an exciting and accessible opportunity for residents of all ages, including those with housing, care and support needs.”

For more information on the Government's Levelling Up Fund and how local areas can submit bids, visit the GOV.UK website (Levelling Up Fund Round 2: prospectus - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)).