Council to consult on new care homes sites

The Highland Council is to consult staff, trade unions, carers and families on the progress being made in identifying sites for five new care homes for older people.

The outcome will reported to the Housing and Social Work Committee on Wednesday 21 May.  In a phased programme over the next five years,, the Council intends building homes at Tain (32 beds), Muir of Ord (32 beds), Inverness (44 beds), Grantown (30 beds) and Fort William (30 beds).

The majority of the sites considered are wholly or part owned by the Council to contain costs, which are estimated at £21.5 million.

 The identified sites that will be included in the consultation are:

Tain: 
A site at Chapel Street is owned by Tain Common Good Fund and is currently undeveloped scrub land on a former sawmill site.  A second site at Craighill Terrace, which is located adjacent to the A 9 trunk road, is also being considered.

Muir of Ord: 
A site has been identified to the north and east of the existing Urray House. It is currently used as amenity ground.

Fort William:
A site has been earmarked at the BMX track to the north of Caol.

Inverness:
Land is available at the Burnside Care Home for a new home. This would require a decant of residents and demolition of the existing home. Ruled out were sites at Ach-an-Eas Care Home, Inverness High School, Drummond School and Diriebught Depot.

Grantown:
It is considered that there is sufficient space with the adjacent Council own play park near Grant House to build a new 30-bed home. The Council is to continue discussions with NHS Highland regarding opportunities for joint working in the town. 

Councillor Margaret Davidson, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Housing and Social Work Committee said the council would be consulting fully with interested groups over the proposed sites for the new homes.  She said: “The outcome of these consultations will be presented to members at our next meeting in May.   Where the outcome of further investigations identifies sites that may be cost prohibitive, further reports on available options will be presented to members for approval.”

She stressed the Council was working closely with the NHS to ensure a joint approach to modernising services for older people.
                                               -ends-