EXCLUSIVE: 80-bed care home for old Winchcombe School site

AN 80-bed multi-million pound specialist care home could soon be built in Newbury, Newburytoday.co.uk can reveal.Land next to the Winchcombe School in Maple Crescent (pictured) has been set aside to build the new facility.

Dementia and physical care experts MedicX are to hold a public consultation in two weeks over the plans.

A spokesman for MedicX, Mark Davis, said: “The development of the new 80-bed care home will assist in supporting the under provision of specialist care beds in the locality as well as supporting the local economy by creating new careers and job opportunities for the area.”

“The Newbury care home would provide the highest standard of care and support for older people in the local area, helping to improve individuals’ quality of life and well-being and promoting independence. It will mean older people have access to different levels of care to meet changing needs,” he added.

The project is a partnership between MedicX and Care UK, an independent provider of health and social care services.

The Winchcombe School underwent a significant refurbishment in 2011, in which redundant buildings of the school (the existing infants section) were demolished.

In order for the scheme to be affordable the surplus land was sold by West Berkshire Council, who appointed an agent in August 2011.

The new facility expected to dwarf the 24-bed care home built in Monks Lane, Newbury by Priory Healthcare, which cost £3.5million.

No cost has been attached to the Winchcombe project as yet, however a 65-bed care home built by the firm in Scotland cost £7million.

The public consultation is be held on Thursday, May 31, between 3pm and 7.30pm at the Winchcombe School, Newbury.