Construction work has started on a new £8.5 million care home scheme in South Gloucestershire.

Stepnell is delivering the new Little Heath Care Home and Reablement Centre at Earlstone Crescent in Cadbury Heath on behalf of care specialist, Brackley Investments.

Designed by Roberts Limbrick Architects, plans include developing a two- and three-storey, 64-bed care home along with a 24-bedroom rehabilitation facility, as well as a rehabilitation gym, shared lounge and dining facilities, and a kitchen. The care home will feature dining and servery areas, shared community amenities including communal lounges, a hair and beauty salon, a function room and shop, plus fitness and gym facilities.

Externally, the scheme will incorporate separate and secure garden spaces, including fruit and vegetable beds, sensory spaces with tactile, scented and intelligent planting schemes. The Centre will also feature photovoltaic solar panels on the roof.

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The new centre, which will be operated by Bristol housing and care provider Brunelcare, will replace the former Heath Resources Centre and the former South Gloucestershire Council Newton House Care Home on the site.

James Harris, Stepnell's Project Manager, said: "We are proud to be playing a part in the delivery of this much-needed care scheme which will provide exceptionally well-designed high-quality care facilities for the wider South Gloucestershire community.

"Stepnell has extensive experience in delivering this type of specialist care accommodation across the country and we're looking forward to seeing this important project progress over the next 18 months."

Jeff Moore, Brackley Investments' Principal Director, said: "Brackley Investments is delighted to be working in partnership with Brunelcare to develop Little Heath Care Home and Reablement Centre. Planning permission was achieved on 3 April, with construction being undertaken by our contractor Stepnell.

"We anticipate handover to Brunelcare will take place during the first quarter of 2020, following completion and fit out. Brackley is looking forward to handing Little Heath over now that the site's former buildings of Newton House and The Heath Resource Centre have been demolished."

(LM)