Plans for three retirement villages

2:09pm Thursday 11th October 2007

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PLANS are being drawn up for three retirement villages as part of a massive revamp of care services in Blackburn with Darwen.

As part of its bid to transform the way adult social care is provided, social services chiefs have unveiled plans for the "community villages" which would cater for younger disabled adults as well as elderly.

Under the plans, to be voted on by councillors next week, the council would ask for tenders from private and non-profit organisations to build the villages - which could also include pubs and cinemas.

They would be developed in the next three to five years, and each one could cater for around 200 people.

The plans would see the council contribute towards accommodation for some people, but anyone would be able to buy a place.

No sites have yet been identified, but Coun David Foster, executive member for adult social care, said both town-centre and out-of-town options would be looked at.

Coun Foster said the plans were a "tremendous opportunity to transform care services".

He added: "People tell us they want high-quality and affordable homes with support on hand and we plan to respond to this in a significant way."

The move is part of a huge planned shake-up of adult social services, which would also see most of the staff transferred to the independent sector.

Stephen Sloss, director of adult social care, said he had looked at a similar project in Hull. He hoped the villages would become a community where people could receive care according to needs.