New care homes will be built – pledge

highland officials give assurances despite estimated costs soaring by £6million

Council chiefs gave an assurance yesterday five planned care homes will be built in the Highlands, despite estimated costs soaring by £6m.

In June council chiefs estimated that the cost of building the care homes in Inverness, Muir of Ord, Tain, Grantown and Fort William would be £21.5million.

But yesterday Highland Council’s housing and social work committee heard that the likely costs are now estimated at £27.26million.

Director of housing and property Steve Barron said the increase was the result of factors including inflation in building costs – which are estimated to rise by £3million by 2011 – demolition costs and external works. However, he stressed to councillors that these were only estimates.

And he added that the current costs did not include a number of extras such as decanting, IT equipment and cabling, land acquisition and legal fees. Designs are being produced for the developments at Burnside, Inverness; at Caol; and at Urray House, Muir of Ord – which are hoped to be complete by spring 2011. Negotiations with NHS Highland and the adjoining landowner are continuing over the development at Craighill Terrace, Tain.

Outline planning permission has also been lodged for the development which, it is hoped, will be completed about six months after the first three. However, discussions with NHS Highland are continuing over the funding of the care home at Grantown. In six months the health authority will confirm whether funding will be available in 2012 for a joint facility. If funding is denied, then councillors will be asked to look at developing the town’s Grant House as a care home.

Despite the costs increases, councillors remained confident in the programme.