Plans for two new care homes for elderly care residents have been approved by councillors in West Dunbartonshire.

The £20m project will see six residential care homes at Langcraigs, Dalreoch, Willox Park, Mount Pleasant, Boquhanran House and Frank Downie Care Homes merged.

Two brand new modern 90 bedded facilities will also be built. The work is expected to be completed by 2015.

West Dunbartonshire Community Health and Care Partnership (CHCP) Committee agreed to the plans.

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West Dunbartonshire Council said recent Care Inspectorate assessments have shown the size, layout and current facilities restrict the care the council can offer.

This finding has led to this investment being developed and now given the go-ahead.

Councillor Gail Casey, Convenor of West Dunbartonshire's CHCP, said: "Some of our care homes were built in 1960 and are struggling to provide the first-class levels of care we aim to deliver.

"Our elderly residents deserve to be looked after in 21st Century care homes - and our staff deserve to work in premises that enable them to provide the best care possible. This decision to build new facilities - with services provided by council-employed care staff - will ensure that we can and will do that in the years to come."

The number of staff required for the new buildings will be agreed with the Care Inspectorate, but it is thought there will be no significant reductions.

(IT)