Developer sought for £7m Aberdeenshire ‘care village’

Aberdeenshire Council has begun searching for a developer to build a £7million “care village” in a north-east town.

The council plans to build a care home for up to 60 people at School Road, Stonehaven.

The development would also include eight cottages and a car park with space for 46 cars and 10 bicycles.

The bike racks will be provided to encourage staff to cycle to work.

A notice posted with Public Contracts Scotland says that any developer would have 18 months from the contract being awarded to complete the project.

Its says the council envisages six firms will be invited to tender. The notice asks developers looking to bid for the work to register an interest.

The council’s housing and social work service lodged plans with the authority’s planning department for the care home last month.

The site, which is owned by the council, had originally been earmarked for a primary school but earlier this year councillors gave permission for the ground to be used by the housing department because it was too small for a school.

The application says the site is close to both bus and train stations and it is surrounded mainly by homes.

It states: “Social work services identified the need for a 60-bedroom care home.

“It is expected the development will provide care and support for individuals who are very frail and have complex and multiple needs including dementia and other mental health conditions.”

The plans say the home would be separated into five 12-person “households”, with each household having a sitting room, dining room, quiet room and assisted bathroom. In addition each resident would have a bedroom with en-suite facilities.

The home will also have a garden, a sun room and a guest suite.

The suite will be for use by overnight visitors who do not stay locally. The proposed semi-detached cottages would form a “care village” with each having its own private back garden.

They will be council houses and occupants will be able to use the care home if required.

A council spokesman said: “Applications for council homes will be considered on their individual merits.

“Efforts are always made to place applicants in the most appropriate council homes.”