Nottinghamshire County Council Faces £53 Million Extra Spend on Supported Living Accommodation

Strategic Insights -

The Nottinghamshire County Council has made a July decision document outlining plans to increase accommodation for young adults with learning disabilities, resulting in a potential spend of £53 million. This additional expenditure is attributed to the need for over 500 extra units within the next five years, with the council estimating 523 additional units are required to meet the demand. Currently, the council has secured 83 of these units through agreements with developers, which are set to be available between spring 2025 and early 2027/28. The increased spend is estimated to be around £53 million, on top of the £84.4 million spent on supported accommodation in the 2024/25 financial year, which was an £8.5 million overspend against the allocated budget.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Nottinghamshire County Council is facing an extra spend of £53 million on supported living accommodation for young adults with learning disabilities.
  • The council estimates 523 additional units are required to meet the demand, with 83 units secured through agreements with developers.
  • The increased spend is estimated to be around £53 million, on top of the £84.4 million spent on supported accommodation in the 2024/25 financial year.
  • The council has used the normal development procurement routes to procure this accommodation.
  • The average cost of residential care services for people with learning disabilities in the county is £1,968 a week per person, whereas the average cost for these people in supported living is between £616 and £1,560 a week.
  • It is estimated that each time a person is moved from a residential setting to a supported living unit it saves the authority £540 a week on average.
  • Adult Social Care takes up a large portion of council budgets across the country, particularly due to growing demand for services.
  • The net spend on learning disability services across Nottinghamshire has increased by 36 per cent between 2019 and 2024.
  • The 2024/25 financial year saw a £20.5m overspend in the Adult Social Care portfolio, representing seven per cent of the authority's portfolio budget.
  • The council is launching a new framework in Autumn 2025, which will allow it to form a list of approved housing providers and bid to supply the accommodation needed.

Statistics:

  • 523 additional units required to meet the demand for young adults with learning disabilities.
  • 83 units secured through agreements with developers.
  • Estimated increase in spend: £53 million.
  • Spend on supported accommodation in the 2024/25 financial year: £84.4 million.
  • Overspend on supported accommodation in the 2024/25 financial year: £8.5 million.
  • Average cost of residential care services for people with learning disabilities: £1,968 a week per person.
  • Average cost of supported living for people with learning disabilities: £616-£1,560 a week.
  • Savings per week per person when moved from residential to supported living: £540.
  • Net spend on learning disability services across Nottinghamshire: 36 per cent increase between 2019 and 2024.
  • Overspend in the Adult Social Care portfolio: £20.5m in the 2024/25 financial year.
  • Overspend in the Adult Social Care portfolio as a percentage of the authority's portfolio budget: seven per cent.

Sources:

  • Nottinghamshire County Council decision document (July 2024).
  • [1] "Nottinghamshire County Council facing extra £53m spend on supported living for young adults with learning disabilities." The List, [Available from: https://www.thelist.co.uk/2024/07/04/nottinghamshire-county-council-facing-extra-53m-spend-supported-living-young-adults-learning-disabilities/].
  • [2] "£8.5m overspend on adult social care in Nottinghamshire." Local Democracy Reporting Service.