Plans have been approved for a new £35 million care village development in Stirling.

A full business case for the facility has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government and build work is scheduled to begin in January 2017. The project will be developed in the grounds of Stirling Community Hospital.

The development is a joint venture between Stirling Council, NHS Forth Valley and the Scottish Ambulance Service.

Plans include creating a new Care Hub with over 100 short-stay care beds, a new Primary and Urgent Care Centre to house a number of existing health services, and relocating the Scottish Ambulance Service's existing ambulance station to a new base on the site.

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In addition, a new purpose-built health and care accommodation will be created, including a café and a hair salon.

Tom Steele, NHS Forth Valley's Director of Estates and Facilities, said: "A great deal of work has been carried out by all the partners to reach this important milestone. We are delighted that our joint plans have been approved and we are now looking forward to delivering these important new health and care facilities."

Gary Bushnell, Chief Executive of developers hub East Central Scotland, added: "Our team has worked closely with all the partners to achieve this important stage of the project and we look forward to managing the delivery of a high quality facility to successful completion.

"Our experts will ensure that the Stirling Care Village is completed to the highest standard to fulfil its important role in the community."

The majority of new facilities are expected to be operational by autumn 2018. Final building works, roads and car parking facilities are scheduled for completion by autumn 2019.

(LM/JP)