Ditchburn Place is a mixed housing development on Mill Road that is close to a wide range of shops and community facilities.
It offers general, supported, extra care and sheltered housing.
General needs housing
There are 21 flats arranged on three floors, without lift access. All flats are self-contained, centrally heated and consist of a hall, bedroom, lounge, kitchen and bathroom. These flats are unfurnished, and let by tenancy agreement.
Services include:
- cleaning communal areas
- garden maintenance
- minor repairs and maintenance
- cleaning exterior window.
Applicants must be over 18 years of age, and those who do not currently live or work in the city will only be considered as low priority.
Supported housing
There are three types of housing for vulnerable people:
- Temporary: 14 flats and seven cottages, consisting of bedroom, lounge, bathroom and kitchen. These are let fully-furnished for a period of approximately two year.
- Shared house: No.39 Ditchburn Place is a three-bedroom house comprising three partially-furnished bedsits and a communal bathroom, lounge/diner and kitchen.
- Shared house: Burmaside House is a detached house with garden adjacent to Ditchburn Place, which comprises four partially-furnished bedsits and a communal bathrooms, lounge/diner and kitchen.
All properties are centrally heated and only suitable for single occupancy.
The supported housing officer and supported housing assistant provide one-to-one support on a weekly basis.
Services include:
- cleaning communal areas
- garden maintenance and cleaning exterior windows
- minor repairs and maintenance.
Applicants must be 18 or over and under 60, and should have the ability and motivation to cope with daily living.
They should not suffer from problems that are likely to create behavioural difficulties unacceptable to other tenants, and should have in place an existing care package with arrangements for regular reviews.
Applicants who do not currently live or work in the city will only be considered as low priority.
Extra-care housing
Ditchburn Place has 34 flats and two bedsits, each with their own front door and letterbox.
The accomodation is located over three floors with lift access. Each has
a bedroom and living room, while the bedsits have a large combined living and bedroom. They are centrally heated, are designed
for wheelchair access.
22 of the flats have kitchen and dining facilities which are shared with the other teanants.
There are also three assisted bathrooms.
All service users have their own tenancy agreement and tenancy conditions setting out their rights and responsibilities.
The weekly rent covers accommodation and service charges, and is eligible for housing benefit payments if applicable. In addition, a further service charge is made for individual use of heating and lighting.
It is a condition of the scheme that tenants agree to pay a weekly charge for the on-site support service, although those who qualify for housing benefits have this cost covered by a grant from supporting people which is part of the Cambridgeshire County Council.
Services provided for people in extra-care housing include:
- support and on-site care 24 hours, 7 days a week
- laundry, cleaning and maintenance services
- a restaurant
Applicants are usually over the age of retirement and should be independently mobile (with or without a wheelchair), and be able to use the toilet independently.
Applicants should require help with daily living and support. This could include help with preparing meals, ensuring their home is clean, arranging shopping, applying for welfare benefits, housing benefit, or advice on household budgeting.
Personal care is available from the on-site care team; the level of care is set out in each individual’s personal service user care plan following an assessment from Cambridgeshire Primary Care Team. Tenants may use an alternative care provider if they choose.
To apply for Extra Care, applicants must complete an application form which will be considered by a panel made up of a domiciliary care manager, lead social workers, a district nurse and senior housing official.
People who do not currently live or work in the city will only be considered as low priority.
Sheltered housing
There are 15 self contained flats and each consists of a lounge, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. These flats are unfurnished but are centrally heated.
All flats are connected to a two-way intercom speech system, and emergency help is available at all hours.
Services provided to tenants include:
- daily staff visits Monday to Friday depending on support need
- cleaning of communal areas and exterior windows
- garden and ground maintenance
- minor repairs and maintenance
- laundry facilities
- home delivery service for meals in an emergency.
Applicants should be over retirement age. People who do not currently live or work in the city will only be considered as low priority.
Housing allocation policy
For more information, read our housing allocation policy.
