Care UK announce major care home developments in Suffolk

Building work on a new Ipswich care home has begun in the same week that residential home provider Care UK has been granted planning permission for another facility in Framlingham.

Taking important steps in seeing through the company’s planned £60m investment programme, the Ipswich facility is one of two new care homes and well-being centres planned for the town, with plans for 10 new Suffolk facilities in total.

Additional sites have already been green-lit for Mildenhall, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft, replacing the provider’s current portfolio of homes, taken over in 2012, that date back to the 60s and 70s.

Regional operations director, Chris Hopkinson, is excited that the Framlingham facility has now been added to those in development, saying: “We are very pleased to have been granted planning approval for the new care home in Framlingham. We have worked closely with the community to ensure we provide a care home that not only suits the residents but is also in-keeping with the surrounding area.

“There is currently a shortfall of specialist nursing and dementia beds in Suffolk and this new care home is a step towards addressing this issue and meeting our and Suffolk County Council’s vision for the future of residential care in the county.”

Approved by Suffolk Coastal District Council, the Framlingham home will be registered for 60 residents, provide both nursing and residential care, while also offering day care and activities to older people from the wider community. A café and small cinema are also included in the design.

Cabinet member for health and adult care at Suffolk County Council, Alan Murray, has welcomed the developments, saying: “This marks the start of us delivering on our promise to Suffolk residents; to ensure the county has purpose-built, 21st century facilities that support people in delivering high quality care to the most vulnerable in society.”

Councillor Murray also praised Care UK for establishing strong community links, including with Ipswich’s Oaks Primary School whose pupils will be able to visit the construction site throughout various stages of the project.

He comments: “It is great that pupils at The Oaks Primary School will be using the development to support their learning and that this will be shared with residents when they move into their new home.”

The new homes have been developed in consultation with local residents, with construction being planned in two phases in order to cause minimum disruption to clients.

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