Approval for the expansion plans of a local charity supporting disabled adults will be discussed at the upcoming Executive meeting.
Disability Initiative (DI) is a charity which provides specialised services and support for disabled adults with complex physical disabilities and/or acquired brain injuries. Their aim is to empower and enable individuals with disabilities, and their families, to live as independently as possible, build resilience, and foster community integration through innovative, inclusive, and collaborative initiatives.
Currently based at the Resource Centre at Knoll Road, Camberley, DI wishes to acquire from the council a freehold plot next to their current building to provide respite care and further therapy facilities for their clients, and also purchase the freehold of their existing building.
The council Executive is recommended to approve the proposed plan.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Housing and Communities Cllr Lisa Finan-Cooke said: “The council has a longstanding relationship with Disability Initiative, who are a vital organisation providing amazing support to disabled adults from Surrey Heath and beyond. Their work is life-changing, and approval for this scheme would mean they could expand its impact even further through increased therapy facilities and respite care.”
The land which would house the new facilities largely consists of part of the Knoll Road surface car park site which is sectioned off and not used by the public. It was formerly used by the ambulance service, but is currently unused. The remaining public car park will not be materially impacted by the proposed change of ownership and use.
Surrey Heath Portfolio Holder for Property and Economic Development Cllr Kel Finan-Cooke said: “Disability Initiative has delivered outstanding work since its formation in 1975, and the proposed new development would enable it to extend its activities, while the sale of the freehold would allow it to become more financially sustainable.”
The land has not been marketed externally due to the council being approached by Disability Initiative directly with the request to accommodate their growth and need for expansion, particularly the ability to provide short term overnight respite care for their clients.
Surrey Heath Borough Council Leader Cllr Shaun Macdonald said: “Disability Initiative’s innovative work with adults with disabilities is inspirational, and has an amazing impact on individuals, their families and the wider community.
“The council is pleased to consider the charity’s proposal to expand their current set up, taking into account the overall positive effect on residents’ wellbeing alongside practical and economic factors involved in the scheme.”
Chief Executive of Disability Initiative Lucy Brown said: "For over 50 years, the charity Disability Initiative has been a cornerstone of Surrey Heath. In partnership with the Borough Council, we would evolve that heritage into a national model of excellence.
“By acting as the primary catalyst to unlock this land, the council would be securing a Strategic Anchor Investment—a £6 million economic engine, a wellbeing centre providing short term purposeful respite and wellbeing resources in the heart of Camberley. This will fundamentally change the landscape for people with physical disabilities, their families and their carers.
“This partnership would deliver a powerful double-dividend for our borough. Economically, it would transform an underutilised asset into a hub for high-skilled professional jobs and a 'Local First' supply chain, driving vital footfall back into our town centre and surrounding areas.
“This centre represents more than a facility; it is a vital 'pressure valve' for our NHS and a lifeline for West Surrey’s thousands of informal carers, preventing the double-crisis of carer breakdown and providing a clear path from dependency to community independence.
“Together, we would build a permanent social asset and a vibrant 'Civic Heart' that ensures people can live a life of dignity, purpose, and belonging, while defining the future of specialist slow stream rehabilitation, respite and wellbeing in the UK."
Disability Initiative Chair of Trustees Sir Andrew Morris said: "The proposed freehold purchases mark a sophisticated and truly collaborative partnership between Disability Initiative and Surrey Heath Borough Council. By securing and developing these vital community assets, we would be making a generational investment in the health and wellbeing of our entire region.
"Establishing a permanent, world-class beacon for respite and slow stream rehabilitation in the heart of Surrey Heath ensures that DI can continue to deliver life-changing support for disabled adults and, crucially, offer purposeful respite to the families who care for them. We are immensely grateful for the council’s vision and support in helping us realise this more inclusive and supportive future where no one is left behind."
The sale is proposed at 50% of the ‘red book’ or market valuations of the existing car park section and adjacent land. This discount is considered appropriate given the charitable status of the organisation, and the benefit that the proposed project will deliver to the community.
Cllr Kel Finan-Cooke added: “The sale of the sites to Disability Initiative will generate capital receipts and contribute to the financial sustainability of the council. As the sale for the new site is subject to planning, the capital receipt for that part is likely to be received by the new West Surrey Council.”