Plans for new care home in Kingswinford are unveiled
Plans for a new care home for the elderly in Kingswinford have been unveiled as part of millions of pounds worth of investment.
The new home is planned next to an existing home at New Bradley Hall which is deemed outdated and will be demolished when the new build is finished with residents moving across.
The move follows years of campaigning and a 5,000-name petition to stop New Bradley Hall's closure after the council said it could no longer afford to run it.
This prompted local authority chiefs to overturn plans, and instead work with the Black Country Housing Group (BCHG) in order to find a solution.
The home and jobs were saved through a transfer deal with BCHG, a housing association, in February last year.
The not-for-profit organisation has since worked in partnership with the council to continue to provide care for residents at the home.
Now BCHG has unveiled plans to build a 66-bedroom complex to replace New Bradley Hall, which they say is no longer fit for purpose.
A planning application has been submitted to Dudley Council, and BCHG will meet all of the costs of the new home.
The building, if approved, will have a modern, purpose-built design, which developers say will enable more person centred care for people with dementia.
A council spokesman added that existing residents would continue to receive care within the home during construction, and then would transfer to the new home.
The existing home would then be demolished under.
Councillor Qadar Zada, Cabinet member for adult social care, said: "When we saved the home, after years of uncertainty, and transferred jobs across to Black Country Housing Group we made it very clear that the residents of the home must come first in everything that happens there.
"I am delighted that this continues to be the case with this application for a significant investment in their home and care.
"If planners approve this development it will help create a modern, purpose-built home, which meets residents' every need."
BCHG have consulted with residents, their families and staff on the proposals.
Amanda Tomlinson, chief executive of BCHG, said: "We want to build a new, state-of-the-art home, which is fit for the future and fully meets the care needs of current and future residents of Dudley. The current building is deteriorating."
BCHG recently opened a care home, Gower Gardens, in Halesowen.
