Three care homes set to open with £57m boost

Carmelo Garcia
Local Democracy Reporting Service
Google The GIS site in Cinderford. There is grass bordering the concrete site which is blocked off by grey fencing and blue netting. There are brown houses behind the site.Google
Gloucestershire County Council believes this approach provides an opportunity for people to enjoy greater independence for longer

Three new care homes are set to be built following a funding boost of £57m.

Gloucestershire County Council approved the investment with the aim of building the homes over the next four-and-a-half years.

The new sites will be developed in places that allow residents to receive care closer to their support networks and where they lived previously.

Councillor Carole Allaway-Martin said: "The needs of our older people are becoming ever more complex and we must make sure that we have the right facilities in the right locations for those who need the highest level of care."

Carmelo Garcia Shire Hall in Gloucester. There are four large stone pillars at the glass door entrance to the building. On the left is tiling reading 'Gloucestershire County Council Shire Hall", with a copper street lamp above it.Carmelo Garcia
Councillor Allaway-Martin told the cabinet meeting on 5 March that the county's population would grow, especially those aged 85 and over

"Many of the existing facilities in Gloucestershire are outdated and further closures of care homes are expected," she explained.

She said this would lead "to a predicted shortfall of somewhere around 900 beds in the county".

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said councillors had identified potential sites for two of the care homes.

These included the former GIS site in Cindeford, the former Elms Care Home site and the Stonehouse Library site.

A location for the third care home, which could be in Tewkesbury, is currently being identified.

There are plans for the first two homes to begin being built in 2026, to be open by 2028.

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