MULTI-MILLION pound plans to build two much-needed new care homes in York have been abandoned after four years of planning and negotiations costing £350,000.  

Seven outdated care homes for elderly people are being closed and were due to be replaced by new "super care homes" run by private providers on the former Lowfield and Burnholme school sites.

However  a two-year procurement process between City of York Council and private operators has fallen through after being found to be £1.5 million a year over budget, and being deemed unaffordable by all parties. The news has been branded a disgrace by one leading councillor.

York Press: Willow House, in Walmgate, one of City of York Council’s existing homes which may be replaced

Willow House, one of the axed homes

The £13.4 million programme was first announced in 2011 but has been troubled by delays and accusations of secrecy, and was described as flawed in a report by external auditors.

Now the council has gone back to the drawing board to outline new plans to find 213 places for older people. The new proposals include: 

  • Adapting care at five sheltered accommodation homes - Glen Lodge, Marjorie Waite Court, Gale Farm Court, Barstow House and Auden House - to cater for people with complex needs. This is forecast  to provide 74 beds by 2018. It is hoped Glen Lodge can be extended.
  • Closing York's "unfit for purpose" care homes Grove House, Haxby Hall, Morrell House, Oakhaven, Windsor House, Willow House and Woolnough House between 2016 and 2019.  Four of the sites are proposed for new housing, including for older people. 
  • Developing the Lowfield site into more than 100 homes. A quarter will be for elderly people and there will also be starter homes.
  • Developing an "integrated care" facility,  including a care home on the Burnholme site which has been discussed with NHS England
  • Block purchasing and providing grants for people to stay in private care in York.
  • Opening new extra care homes providing 43 places by 2018/19
  • Bidding for Government funding to support further projects

The council has said the new plans focus on community-centred care, allowing older people to live in their own homes and communities for as long as possible.

Guy Van Dichele, the council's acting director of adult social care, said the new plans were an "exciting opportunity" to improve care and accommodation for older people.

York Press:

From left: Cllrs Paul Doughty, Carol Runciman and Linsay Cunningham

Bob Towner, chair of York Older People's Assembly (YOPA), said they agreed with supporting elderly people to remain at home but were disappointed with the announcement.

Mr Towner said: "We had expected something to have emerged by now, such as starting work on the site at Burnholme. 

"There must be a general disappointment that everything one was led to believe was going to happen, hasn't." 

Cllr Paul Doughty, chair of the health overview and scrutiny committee, said he is "astonished that after four years" the authority is abandoning plans having wasted "£350,000 of taxpayers’ money in the procurement process". 

He said: "They now seem to be saying they can't go forward with viable plans without funding from the local Clinical Commissioning Group or financial commitment from the Homes and Community Agency and have yet to make any bids to the latter.

"It is clear that this authority continues to be deficient in its ability to handle financial matters or stick within budgets, while residents who desperately deserve good, basic care such as en-suite facilities go on wanting and waiting for a yet indeterminable number of years to come. It is a disgrace."

Cllr Carol Runciman, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for health said: “The proposal for a new care home on the Lowfield site has been abandoned despite the Labour Cabinet spending £350,000 on the procurement process. 

“This project is at least £1 million over budget and the council is no closer to delivering the new facilities than it was in 2011. While I am pleased to see that the project appears to be getting back on track this really should have happened much sooner.”

Linsay Cunningham, council cabinet member for health, said: "We are trying to gert as many people as possible to stay in their own communities."