Last year the Council submitted an unsuccessful bid for government grant funding to build extra care supported housing. This year the Council selected as preferred partner a Registered Social Landlord which was the most successful in last year's bids. With them the Council has submitted a further application in this year's bidding round. This partnership has been successful in producing a detailed and high quality bid. It includes plans for sustainable energy use, for an element of mixed ownership and for faith rooms to help meet the needs of resident's from Slough's diverse communities. The outcome of the bid will be known in February 2005. If the bid is unsuccessful our partner housing association is committed to working with Slough to identify alternative capital funding to ensure that this development is built.

Progress has also been made on the reprovision of the Council's care homes for older people. Two preferred bidders for the new dual-registered nursing and residential care home have been selected and detailed work on the specification is underway. It is anticipated that a decision on the site will be made early in 2005.