A new care home could be set to open close to the centre of Bolton.
This comes after plans were put forward to transform a set of offices on Chorley New Road into a new residential home by the Optimo Care Group.
Town hall leaders say that this could help to meet the borough’s growing need for care spaces.
Bolton Council cabinet member for adults, health and social care Cllr Sean Fielding said: “As we have an ageing population, we are inevitably going to need more residential care beds.
“Investment from the private sector to meet this demand is welcomed and while I can’t comment on the detail of the planning application it is welcome that it has been submitted by a provider who is rated good by the Care Quality Commission.”
As well as refitting the offices to create care home facilities, the proposal also includes the installation and removal of windows with an external staircase to access the basement.
Bolton Council’s highways department have stated that they have no grounds to object to the bid.
Social care has long been a contentious issue in Bolton, with a report in December last year having revealed the borough was facing a £3.5M funding gap for 2024/25.
This was despite the council having received a £600,000 funding boost from the Department for Health and Social Care earlier that same month.
At the time, the government said that this has been awarded in recognition of the extra support needed for older and vulnerable people.
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In April this year, the council announced that it was preparing to spend around £20M on home and community care services over the next year.
A report put before the authority that month said that this spend was likely to increase over the coming years, rising to £30.61M by 2028.
New care homes, like the plan for Chorley New Road, could form part of a wider care offer across the borough to help meet needs like these.
The plans were put before Bolton Council on Thursday April 25.
The authority will aim to decide whether or not to approve the bid by Thursday June 20 this year.
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