COUNCIL bosses are pushing ahead with plans for a supersized care home after years of uncertainty.

After investigating a series of options, Southend Council has decided to progress with proposals to build a “fit for purpose” social care campus on the site of the existing Priory House, in Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff.

It will feature a 60 bed dementia care home and a learning disability centre.

It will replace Priory House, Delaware House, in Delaware Road, Shoebury, and the Viking Learning Disability Day Centre, in Avro Road, Southend.

Lesley Salter, councillor responsible for adult social care, said: “I am very pleased that Cabinet has agreed the strategic plan that enables this exciting and innovative project to progress.

“Our preferred option now is to redevelop the Viking Learning Disability Day Centre and build a new 60 bed dual registered dementia care home all on the Priory site.

“These will both be high-specification, modern, and attractive new buildings, providing improved facilities for our local people.

“This project will not only protect and safeguard our most vulnerable members of the community into the future, it was also make us a real leader in the way care is delivered.

“As this project progresses to delivery, we will talk in detail with the families of those affected to ensure that any moves are handled sensitively and with minimal disruption.”

The scheme will be financed by the council under its local authority trading company, Southend Care.

A long-term commercial lease will be arranged for the running of the facility

Meg Davidson, Tory councillor for Prittlewell, said the authority is still looking into the best way to relocate the existing care home residents.

She said: “It has been going on for quite a few years and there has been a lot of uncertainty. The council has looked at different options very carefully.

“It is looking like a promising development that will deal with the issue. The current facilities wouldn’t be fit for purpose in the long run.

“The council is making progress but there is further work to still do. How to move the residents still has to be looked at.

“Last year, the idea was to get everything built and then move everyone over. The logistics will have to be worked out to decide what will cause the least disruption to residents.

“But after the move, they will have a modern, purpose built residence.”

A business plan will be put together and presented to cabinet in February.