As part of Aberdeenshire Council’s new build projects going forward this year, work recently commenced to develop a new 60 bed care home and 8 one bedroom cottages on a town centre site at School Road, Stonehaven.

A total of 35 properties were completed this year within phase one of the new build programme in Mintlaw, Johnshaven and Tarves. A further 117 properties developed this year in Banff, Inverurie, Stonehaven, Laurencekirk, Alford and Cruden Bay.

In addition, 11 homes will be built in Cruden Bay starting around March 2012. All properties will meet the highest standards of efficiency and fuel economy.

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Aberdeenshire Council currently has around 7,200 people on its housing waiting list and has secured over £4m in total from the Scottish Government towards the cost of building these new homes.

Aberdeenshire Council has committed all the funding for the new care home amounting to around £8m.

Councillor Gurudeo Saluja, chairman of the Social Work and Housing committee, said: “This new home will double the number of existing residential care places, as well as providing a 21st Century environment for delivering care to older people.

“The cottages will be available to people on the housing waiting list and if appropriate they will be able to draw on the services and facilities within the care home.”

Councillor Carl Nelson, vice-chair of the committee said: “Development of the 60 bed care home and eight cottages will create a ‘care village’ concept which is a first of its kind for Aberdeenshire Council.

“The new care home will replace the existing Edenholme care home in Stonehaven which opened in 1952 with 15 residents, and currently has around 30 residents.”

(GK)