Fresh plans submitted for affordable homes for staff at multi-million pound care hub being developed in Inverness by Parklands Care Homes
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A care home operator has resubmitted plans for 24 affordable homes for its staff and other key workers as part of a multi-million pound investment in Inverness.
Parklands Care Homes began work in December on the first phase of a £10 million integrated care hub at Milton of Leys in Inverness, a 58 bed care home due to open in 2023.
Work is also due to start on the construction of 11 assisted two-bedroom specialist housing units for later life living on an adjoining site.
Work begins on transformational care hub
Parklands also submitted proposals earlier this year for 24 affordable homes on a nearby site comprising 12 two-bedroom apartments alongside 12 two- bedroom cottage flats to encourage key workers to take up new posts at the care hub.
It has now submitted amended plans for 24 cottage flats in a two-storey building rather than a three-storey block of flats with communal stairwells as in the previous application.
In the amended designs, each of the cottage flats have a private door directly to the outside and are organised around a central garden with more community orientated open space,
The new application also proposes reducing the number of car parking spaces and creating landscaped areas.
A supporting statement submitted on behalf of Parklands Care Homes says there is a distinct lack of quality rental accommodation offered and available at affordable rents for those seeking employment within the care sector in the Highlands and specifically in Inverness.
The new care facility is likely to employ about 20 to 25 staff members, once operational.
The statement says: "In proposing 24 x two-bed properties for staff accommodation, Parklands are ensuring a holistic approach is being taken to ensure the right staff are attracted to and given access to the housing opportunities they require.
"Purpose-built new build properties made available at affordable rents for staff is the key aim of these properties.
"The cottage flats will offer the opportunity for some staff members to share accommodation which again will allow them to lessen the financial burden associated with high rents and poorly-insulated private-rented accommodation across the city."
It adds that where there is spare capacity, the accommodation could be opened to care workers in the wider community who provide an invaluable service and often at lower salaries, finding it difficult to obtain good quality housing for their needs.
