“Super-care” homes plan agreed for York

A £13.5 million scheme to build three new “super-care” homes in York and close the city’s existing facilities is to be pushed ahead.

Leading councillors have agreed to move forward with a programme which will take shape in phases over three or four years and see new homes built on the sites of the current Fordlands and Haxby Hall care homes and on a new site at Lowfields School.

Fordlands and Oliver House are set to be the first to close and City of York Council will stage a six-week consultation with residents and their relatives, as well as staff, while consultation will also be carried out at York’s seven other care homes.

A report will go before the authority’s cabinet in January and, if the plans are agreed, the first homes could close next April. A city-wide survey on the future of elderly care in York attracted 1,163 responses, with the council saying nine out of ten of those who took part agreed with its intentions.

“We are now keen to build from the strong and endorsing consultation feedback we received from residents across the city,” said Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, cabinet member for health, housing and adult social services.