Independent Living Project, Leeds

Mascot Management were appointed by Gleeson Capital Solutions in November 2007 to provide Bid Management support through the Preferred Bidder Stage.

The procurement process is for the 25 year housing Private Finance Initiative (PFI) between Leeds City Council and the Leeds Independent Living Accommodation Company (LiLAC) Consortium.

The LiLAC Consortium comprises specialist housing provider Progress Care Housing Association, local company Jack Lunn (Properties) Ltd and M J Gleeson Group plc, whose specialist PFI company, Gleeson Capital Solutions managed the bid consisting of 73 houses, bungalows and small blocks of flats built across Leeds in phased developments. The Independent Living Project will deliver purpose-designed, new homes for 343 adults who currently live in 13 large residential homes, allowing them to live closer to their own communities in smaller, more independent settings. The state-of-the-art homes will be suited to the needs of the people using them and will incorporate assistive technology.

The project will also enable new services to be developed which cater specifically for learning disabled people with complex needs.

The project is part of a wider modernisation programme in Leeds to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and mental health needs. Individualised packages of care and support will be delivered through Leeds City Council and other partners which will promote independence, well-being and choice.

The council has been successful in attracting PFI credits for the Independent Living Project from the Department for Communities & Local Government and the Department of Health.