GALLOWAY'S Society for the Blind is planning to build new flats for disabled people following the closure of its former residential home.

The group hopes to spend nearly £m pounds on the facilities over the next three years.

And to meet the costs Galloway's is applying for a lottery grant and raising money by turning the old home in Howick House, Penwortham, into a resource centre for the voluntary sector, using the income from renting out space.

The 135-year-old charity closed its home due to falling numbers, increased costs and the need to find £1m to meet new Government standards.

Now Galloway's has started plans to build ten to 12 flats at a cost of £400,000. The charity's dirctor, Peter Taylor, said: "The architects are drawing up plans and we have to submit planning applications. We hope it will be completed by 2005.

"The building we have isn't suitable to be used as a care home, but it is ideal to provide offices for small charities.

"Regarding the flats, whatever we do in future will be very different from the old. It will be much more sheltered and supported accommodation. We are finding people prefer to live independently and have support from us to do things that they find difficult."

Galloway's, which serves 6,000 blind people, will keep its own offices in Howick House.