Highland care home upgrade update.

Work is progressing to upgrade facilities at three Council care homes for older people in the Highlands, at a cost of £4.7 million. 

A contract has been awarded to Morrison Construction to upgrade Ach an Eas, a care home for older people in Inverness.  The work will involve an upgrade to electrical and heating systems, improvements to residents’ en-suite bathrooms, decoration and new floor finishes and further fire safety work, including the installation of a sprinkler system.  This follows on from work done earlier in the year to upgrade the kitchen, provide an additional assisted toilet and bathroom and to improve access to the building.  It is anticipated that work will start in November and take 6 months to complete. The work will be carried out in phases, allowing Ach an Eas to continue operating during the refurbishment.

Morrison Construction are also about to start the second phase refurbishment of Invernevis House in Fort William , where again the work is to be carried out in phases.  Works will include improvements to electrical and heating systems, the installation of a biomass boiler and increased wall insulation, which will be a contribution to reducing energy costs and the Council’s carbon footprint.  Six larger rooms with en-suite facilities will be created, allowing a total of 32 bedrooms to be made available following the refurbishment.  Installation of a sprinkler system and other fire safety improvements will be carried out along with decoration and new flooring finishes. Work is due to start in early October and take 6 months to complete. 

At Grant House, Grantown on Spey, where the refurbishment started in March, work is well under way.  Contractors, Morrison Construction, are currently on site upgrading the electrical and heating systems, improving the residents’ bathroom facilities, carrying out additional fire safety work, the installation of new fire alarm and sprinkler systems and the installation of a new biomass boiler.  Works will include decoration and re-carpeting also.  Work is expected to be completed in November.

The refurbishment is being carried out in phases in order to allow Grant House to remain open while work is in progress.  Contractors and staff are working well to minimise any disruption whilst work is being carried out.