Progress is being made on the design of a new Dutch-style care village in the Stirches area of town and a planning application is expected in “the near future”, The Hawick Paper can reveal.
Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has described the design as “innovative” and is pledging to carry out a public consultation as the project develops.
More than £8.5million was earmarked for the facility when the local authority’s budget was published in February.
SBC was looking at potential sites before then and is now in a position to take the next steps.
A spokesperson for the local authority told us: “Scottish Borders Council has been progressing the design of the new care service with partners and will be applying for planning permission in the near future.
“The innovative build and design will allow for homely living in small units based on care village design pioneered in The Netherlands.
“A public consultation will be carried out as the project develops.”
The project, which SBC aims to complete within three years, initially put Deanfield care home at risk of closure.
Since it was announced, however, the first floor at Deanfield has been repurposed in partnership with NHS Borders to provide 14 nursing beds and meet coronavirus challenges. It remains to be seen how long the arrangement lasts.
Welcoming the news, local ward councillor, Stuart Marshall, told us: “It is fantastic to learn that the care village plans are progressing. It will be warmly welcomed in the town.
“The plans were part of the council’s budget process earlier in the year and I was very supportive. I’m delighted that things are now moving along.”
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