Decision details

The Safe Space project is a critical initiative aimed at supporting individuals with learning disabilities and / or autism who are experiencing a crisis that threatens their current living situation. 

The project aims to provide a community-based “Safe Space” 2 self-contained new builds with an additional staff / multi-purpose support space on site providing an alternative to hospital admission, allowing individuals to stay close to home whilst receiving intensive support to reset and stabilise their wellbeing.

To enter into a grant agreement to award Choice Support £1,550,891 to implement the decision of Cabinet to approve the inclusion of Safe Space into the capital programme with a budget of £1.795m (para 64-66).

The project will de-commission an existing building and build a new facility called ‘The Safe Space’ to be located on Wantage Road, Didcot. 

It will provide two self-contained single-storey buildings with enclosed gardens and parking spaces, as well as a third building to accommodate Support Provider staff who are on duty throughout the day and night, to enable safe withdrawal and monitoring of individuals in the safe space. 

This third building will also provide a flexible space for skills teaching, day support for crisis prevention and support moves back into longer term supported housing.

Decision was made to enter this scheme into the capital programme with a budget of £1.795m to be funded by S106 developer contributions.  The initial grant awarded to Choice Support will be £1,550,891.

Signing of the grant agreement is to enter into an agreement with Choice Support to deliver the new build on behalf of the council.

Do nothing, refurbish an existing site.

Neither of the alternative options would be able to provide an adequate alternative to hospital to meet the needs of people who need very robust, low stimulus, specialist property solution alongside specialist support.