Councillors are set to approve significant changes to a multi-million-pound “urban care community” in Perth.
Earlier this year, Balhousie Care Group was given permission to transform the derelict site on Isla Road, formerly occupied by the Tayside Nursing Home, into a retirement development.
The original proposals would have featured two 60-bed state-of-the-art care homes, 25 assisted living units and three mainstream properties.
Since then, however, the current economic climate has forced the firm to rethink its plans and dramatically scale them down.
One of the two proposed care homes has now been replaced with sheltered housing units, which will be a combination of 50 one and two-bedroom properties, as well as shared facilities, landscaping, guest accommodation and 24-hour security.
In a report set to go before councillors tomorrow, development quality manager Nick Brian revealed that proposals will support Perth’s ageing population, which is set to increase by 6,000 by 2018.
He said: “The proposed development would both increase provision of specialist housing and would ensure that older households in privately-owned accommodation can continue to live independently.
“The provision of this sort of accommodation can also have benefits in terms of reduced demand on public sector resources and health services.
“The wider benefits also include the possible associated increase in the availability of family housing in the area, as statistics show that two out of three residents in such developments move from homes with three or more bedrooms.”
Although concerns were raised by Bridgend, Gannochy and Kinnoull Community Council that local traffic would increase in an already congested area, Mr Brian pointed out that it would generate less trips that the original plans.
It is hoped that, if these latest plans are approved, about 150 jobs could be created in Perth, as well as rejuvenating a site that has long been an eyesore.
Contractors have already torn down the existing building, which is known to many residents as the offices of the insurance company General Accident, before being converted into the Tayside Nursing Home in 1997.