Highland Council reveals Ross care home plans
By News Scotland

PLANS for new care homes in two Ross-shire communities have taken a major step forward.

Highland Council’s housing and social work committee has agreed a preferred bidder to deliver new care home placements, which will involve building and operating new homes on Council-owned sites in Muir of Ord and Tain.

Each care home will provide residential and nursing care in  34 en-suite bedrooms, with the opportunity to extend to 40 bedrooms in future.

Parklands Highland Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Parklands Ltd, Buckie, who own and operate six care homes in Moray and Highland providing 170 placements and employing 275 staff.

They were selected as preferred bidder following a procurement exercise.

The proposal is that Parklands Highland Ltd will lease the two existing care homes – at Urray House, Muir of Ord, and Duthac House, Tain – from July/August this year.

Operational staff will transfer from the Council on their current terms and conditions, including pensions.

The two new care homes will be built and ready for occupation by autumn, next year, when Urray House and Duthac House will close and the Parklands’ lease of these properties ends, says the Council.

Parklands will engage Robertson Construction to build the two homes simultaneously.

A report approved by the Committee highlighted that the new homes will be 40 per cent larger than the minimum standards with existing and new residents able to choose the colour scheme in their bedroom.

Renewable technology will be used, with both buildings being heated using biomass.

Councillor Margaret Davidson, chairman of the housing and social work committee, said, “Parklands have an excellent track record in providing first class nursing and residential care in the Highlands and Moray and we are looking forward to working with them on this exciting new project.

“As a result of this procurement exercise, we are providing new and improved accommodation with greater capacity in both Muir of Ord and Tain and this can only be good news for the local communities.

“Good communication with our staff is of paramount importance as we move towards the transfer in the summer.”