NEW homes are being built in Bolton to support people with complex learning difficulties.

More than 34 people will benefit from the plans, as the numbers dealing with learning difficulties and autism are expected to increase.

Updates on the scheme to help relocate adults living in secure and non-secure facilities away from the town back home were presented by Bolton Council head of commissioning Tim Bryant to the NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) board yesterday.

He said: “It’s a slow process to reestablishing people, they are going through a very complex transition.

“We are achieving Greater Manchester targets. By the end of September the number of people with learning disabilities in non-secure facilities funded by the CCG are six. There are also seven people in secure facilities funded by NHS England.”

The scheme will see people resettled in community placements which enable them to live more independent lives.

Funded jointly by the council and CCG, it includes a development in Waters Meeting Road to support 10 people. Provided by the Stockport-based charity the Together Trust, work will begin on the site soon and it is expected to be completed in 18 months time.

Vale House in Horwich, which provides accommodation and nursing support for men, will be extended by two flats and The Hollies in Breightmet will support 24 people across two sites.

He added: “With service providers and specialists involved in health and social care, it is a real collaboration making sure people’s outcomes are delivered.

“As of the end of March there were 626 adults with a learning disability accessing a long term service in Bolton compared to the circa 4,000 people within the population. This is expected to increase to five per cent in the next 10 years. People with autistic spectrum disorder are increasing by two per cent with the current estimated population at 1,683.”