Work has begun on Angus Council’s £9 million care centre and supported housing project in Carnoustie.
A turf cutting ceremony was held at the former Kinloch Primary School site at noon on Thursday, where Angus depute provost Peter Murphy made the first incision, assisted by retiring council chief executive David Sawers and local schoolchildren.
Scheduled for completion in early 2013, the development will provide 25 two-bedroom and three one-bedroom supported housing units for older people and marks phase one of a programme to create 265 such tenancies in Angus by 2028.
A care home with an eight-bed high dependency residential unit, an eight-bed respite unit, a day care centre and office accommodation is also being constructed at the site.
Part of the complex will be a communal lounge area and other facilities that can be used by members of the new community.
Mr Murphy said, “The town centre development will provide accommodation and facilities specifically tailored to the needs of older people, placing them firmly in the heart of the community.
“We carried out an extensive review of older people’s services in Angus a few years ago and are now working to address the needs of a growing older population by enabling them to help themselves and to maintain their independence, wherever possible, in their own homes.”
The supported housing element of the project attracted a £700,000 subsidy from the Scottish Government.
Mansell Construction Services of Perth was awarded the tender for construction at a cost of just over £6.7 million, with expenses including land acquisition, demolition costs, IT equipment, professional fees, equipment and furniture making up the remaining £2.3 million.Older populationThe development was planned to cater for the impending boom in the number of elderly people in Angus.
Over the next 20 years the region will see a 120% increase in the number of people over the age of 85.
Mr Murphy added, “Despite the current financial climate this development in Carnoustie remains a priority for the council.”
There will also be 10 family homes built for rent at a cost of £1.4 million, supported by a Scottish Government grant of £250,000. Land has also been set aside for a civic centre and the local authority has earmarked a contribution of £300,000 to the project, to be led by Carnoustie Centre Action Group.
In total the council has invested just under £11 million in the Carnoustie development.
Mr Murphy said, “The completed development will revitalise and invigorate the centre of the town and I am pleased that we will have 10 new semi-detached family homes available for rent by November of this year.”
A time capsule, containing artefacts selected by children from Burnside and Woodlands primary schools, residents of Camus House and social work and health staff was buried on the site.