Almost £2.4m could be spent to build 16 new homes in a Norfolk town to help provide desperately-needed housing for people who need extra support to live independently.

A string of residential care home closures has triggered a rise in demand for housing for adults with care and support needs.

How the new Swaffham housing scheme could lookHow the new Swaffham housing scheme could look (Image: Norfolk County Council)

Norfolk County Council sees the scheme off Beech Close in Swaffham, which would provide homes for adults with learning disabilities, autistic people and people with physical disabilities, as a way to provide some of that housing.

Alison ThomasAlison Thomas (Image: archant)

Alison Thomas, the Conservative-controlled county council's cabinet member for adult social care, said: "Supported Living is one of several kinds of specialist housing we need more of in Norfolk, one which allows its residents to live a healthy, independent life with the security of care and support on hand should they need it."

The county council's cabinet will next month be asked to approve the award of £2.35m towards the scheme from the authority's £18m supported living pot.

County Hall acknowledges the scheme will only go some way to tackling a shortage in such housing in Norfolk, where more than 300 specialist housing units are needed.

Mrs Thomas said: "These 16 units are an important step towards meeting that demand, and I’ll be making the case to my colleagues to approve this investment and, with planning permission already secured from Breckland District Council, allowing work to start on them later this year."

Councillors at Breckland gave the scheme the green light last month, despite 22 letters of representation.

Neighbours, including the town's Conservative club, had raised concerns about extra traffic and impact on parking, but councillors granted permission.

Proposals for new homes in SwaffhamProposals for new homes in Swaffham (Image: TODD Architects)

The homes, made up of 12 apartments and four bungalows, would be managed by Golden Lane Housing as a not-for-profit specialist registered social landlord.

There would also be on-site support and personal care from a Care Quality Commission- registered care provider.

READ MORE: New children's residential home to open in Bowthorpe

Council officers say providing more specialist housing to meet future demand could help County Hall's adult social services department save about £6m a year.

Cabinet will consider the report when it meets at 10am on Monday, September 2.