A MULTI-MILLION pound taxpayer-funded sheltered homes project has been completed.

The 36-unit sheltered housing scheme, Sylvan Court – built by Southampton-based firm Drew Smith – is located on the east side of the Coldeast hospital site in Sarisbury Green, as part of Fareham Borough Council’s biggest social housing scheme to date.

The development, which took 20 months to complete, consists of two-bedroom flats and 25 one-bedroom flats, all with their own balcony or patio.

All the flats are wheelchair-accessible and cater for a wide range of support needs.

The complex also boasts a lounge, activity room and hairdressers as well as a communal garden.

Councillor Sean Woodward, executive leader of Fareham Borough Council hailed the development’s completion.

He said: “As our population ages it is critical that we provide good quality homes for our older residents with support needs.

“Sylvan Court sits in beautiful surroundings at the old Coldeast Hospital site.

“It is built to a very high standard and half of the apartments are already let.”

A similar 40-place unit has just been finished at Collingwood Court, Highlands Road, Fareham.

Both schemes will provide sheltered housing for Fareham residents over 60 with a medical condition, who can live independently in their own apartments with a degree of support on site.

Fareham Borough Council spent £5.5m on the project, which included a £720,000 grant from the Government’s Homes & Communities Agency.

Councillor Woodward added: “We’ve got a significantly ageing population in Fareham therefore we need to provide affordable housing for this elderly population.’’

Councillor Brian Bayford, chair of the council’s housing development panel, said the scheme is the second of its kind in three decades.

He said: “We’re starting to build a number of affordable properties in Fareham and for the first time in 25 years we’re building our own sheltered housing.’’

“This is the second recent sheltered housing scheme in Fareham and we’re looking at a number of other sites.”

Cllr Kay Mandry said: “Sylvan Court is the second sheltered housing scheme we have built recently in Fareham, following the success of the brand new Collingwood Court which was completed in 2015. It’s important that we provide much needed affordable and modern accommodation for the ageing population of the Borough.”