PROPOSALS have been put forward to build a state-of-the-art unit on the site of the former Greenways care home in Darwen.

The plans, for the location in Salisbury Road, are for a 60-bed specialist unit for short-term rehabilitation stays and some specialist dementia services.

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It will replace the Greenways care home which closed in 2013 and has now been demolished.

Councillor Mustafa Desai, head of health and adult social care for Blackburn with Darwen Council, has welcomed the proposal.

He said: “These plans are at a very early stage, but this is exciting news.

“It is great to see such investment being brought into the borough and jobs it could potentially create. This is exactly the type of facility we need.

“Our older people deserve the highest quality services and when built, this care service will offer that.”

The new service is a project between Community Integrated Care (CIC), the council and the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

It will aim to echo the style of the new EachStep facility in Blackburn on the old Royal Infirmary site, which is due to open later this year.

EachStep is set to include 64 beds that will provide respite support, residential care and nursing care.

There are also plans for the service to deliver home care in the local community, assisting people to live independently in their own homes for longer.

Cath Murray-Howard, deputy chief executive of CIC, said: “We are excited to be working in partnership with Blackburn with Darwen Council and CCG to introduce new care provision in Darwen. We are looking forward to working with the council, CCG and members of the community to develop plans for this exciting service.

“This new service will complement EachStep Blackburn, our upcoming state-of-the-art dementia care home, which will open soon.

“We believe that together these services will make a great impact on the local community.”

The closure of Greenways care home was part of Blackburn with Darwen Council’s shake-up of elderly care which saw its four borough-run homes close to save cash.

The demolition of the site took longer than expected after the discovery of bats roosting in the buildings.