Work to build the new Children's House for Orkney is to commence later this year.

The local authority's Planning Committee gave the go ahead for the project at Watersfield, Kirkwall, at a meeting earlier this week.

It is understood the new house will replace the former Camoran facility.

The House will provide accommodation for four children with 24-hour supervision by staff, and the facility will be located within Phase Three of the Council's Watersfield housing development which is made up of a mix of detached and semi-detached housing and self-build plots sites available on the open market.

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Work, once started, will take around 12 months to complete.

Caroline Sinclair, Chief Social Work Officer for Orkney Health and Care, said: "We're delighted this project has now passed this important milestone.

"The new House has been an aspiration of the Service for a number of years.

"Work will now begin with architects to finalise internal design, and with colleagues in the Council to start the tendering process, with the aim of starting construction in summer this year. We have also listened to what children who have been in care tell us about their experiences and we will use their feedback to inform the development too."

(JP)