Robertson, one of the largest independently owned construction, infrastructure and support services companies in the UK, has completed work on a new centre in Stirling.

The new Bellefield Centre forms part of the £37 million Stirling Health and Care Village and it is expected to officially open in December 2018.

The centre will provide short-term care, assessment or rehabilitation for older people who require additional support following an illness or operation.

It will have the capacity to care for 116 people across four short-stay areas (Thistle, Wallace, Argyll & Castle Suites), and will also provide support for people with dementia and those who need palliative or end of life care. In addition, it will have a café, hairdressers, retail space, landscaped areas and a multipurpose area which can be used by local community groups and volunteers.

Key design features include:

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• Green spaces – a village green, landscaping with new planting and trees, therapeutic courtyard gardens, roof terraces enclosed with special safety balustrades which offer access to outdoor spaces and fresh air from upper floors, raised planters for gardening and walkways to nearby woodland.

• Entrance plazas and social areas, including communal dining areas, to encourage greater interaction and provide spaces for gathering and activities.

• Design and wayfinding – en-suite rooms to maintain dignity and privacy which can be adapted to suit individual needs, use of colour, contrast, signage, acoustics and lighting to support wayfinding and create a stimulating, warm and comforting environment.

• Inside spaces with reminiscence and memorabilia resources.

Stirling Council leader, Councillor Scott Farmer said: "This new centre will make a significant contribution to the development of local health and social care services in Stirling. Great work has gone into its design to provide a sensitive and caring environment where we can deliver the necessary care for local service users."

Shiona Strachan, Chief Officer of the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Health and Social Care Partnership, said: "The number of people affected by dementia is set to double in the next 25 years and it is estimated that, at any one time, up to one in four people undergoing short stay assessment will experience some form of dementia.

"It is with these figures in mind that we have worked closely with the architects to make sure that this important new development is designed to be dementia-friendly at every level to help meet the increasing demands of an ageing population and set new standards for dementia friendly design."

(CD/CM)