Construction has begun on a £6.9 million care home which will support adults with complex mental health needs and physical disabilities.

Wytham Lodge, in Padiham, will provide long-term community care to adults who would have otherwise had a prolonged stay in hospital.

The design, created by Watson Batty Architects, will encompass the latest medical best practice, maximise natural light, and seek to be a homely building sympathetic to its site location and surrounding area.

The home will be split into three communities, each having their own communal living and dining spaces and a sensory bathroom.

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It will also feature an activities hub, a large accessible garden, a dedicated therapy room offering holistic therapeutic care, and support led by the in-home physiotherapist and occupational therapist.

Each of the 34 large bedrooms will also have its own ensuite wet room.

Wytham Lodge is set to open in the summer of 2024 and will create more than 100 new healthcare jobs in the area, including health care assistants, registered nurses, a physiotherapist, and an occupational therapist.

Steve Rigby, head of developments at Exemplar Health Care, said: “We are delighted to start work on Wytham Lodge, our state-of-the-art new home that will provide vital care and support for adults living with complex needs.

“We have designed this new home with the needs and comfort of future residents in mind.

"It will feature spacious bedrooms, common areas with plenty of natural light, and a variety of amenities – such as kitchen equipment that can change height to support both mobile and wheelchair users – to promote resident engagement and well-being.

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“This marks a significant investment in the local community as we aim to create 100 jobs for skilled and compassionate healthcare workers who will deliver person-centred care to our residents.

“We look forward to welcoming the first residents to Wytham Lodge in 2024 and working closely with our local health and social care partners to meet the needs of the local community.”

Recruitment is due to start in summer 2024 and anyone interested in applying can register their interest here.