NORTH Yorkshire is to expand its housing for the elderly to meet demand from its rapidly ageing population.

By the end of the decade, one in four of North Yorkshire’s population will be aged over 65 and there will be 65 per cent more people over the age of 85.

In order to deal with this ageing demographic, the county council aims to create 30 Extra Care housing schemes within its borders by 2020, to care for the elderly and also vulnerable adults.

The county council’s executive has just agreed to take the first step in a £1m procurement exercise that will eventually see the facilities being built.

Councillor Clare Wood, executive member for North Yorkshire County Council, said the new housing schemes should bring jobs to the region.

"This is a self-financing model which could bring in millions of pounds to the county through regeneration as well as creating a massive opportunity for the construction industry and also bring jobs into the region,” said Coun Wood.

“The demographic challenges we face mean we have to find new ways of working."

The Extra Care housing schemes already up and running in the county have an emphasis on allowing their residents to maintain their independence whilst having round-the-clock care available if needed.

The complexes have facilities such as restaurants, hairdressing salons, hobbies’ rooms and libraries. Couples have apartments where they can live together with their pets and have space for other family members to stay over. Each apartment usually has two bedrooms, a fully fitted kitchen, lounge and bathroom.

The expansion of the programme will mean room for an extra 1,800 tenants on top of the 600 already in operation.

Some schemes will be built to accommodate people with disabilities, which should allow elderly people with physically or mentally disabled children to continue to live near each other.

Coun Wood said: “We have a fantastic opportunity here to make a real difference to people’s lives and to be national leaders in this field."