COUNCIL bosses have started the hunt for a company to build a new care home at a former York school.

The next steps are being taken in the redevelopment at Burnholme Community College, and the council is looking for an investor who can fund, build and operate a new a nursing and residential care home on the site.

The move has been many months in the planning, as Burnholme has been earmarked for a new care home in the city since earlier plans for a “super care home” were scrapped on cost grounds after years of work.

An advert has now gone into an official EU journal looking for a commercial partner.

Cllr Carol Runciman, City of York Council’s executive member for adult social care and health, said she was pleased to see the project take a step forward. “The plans for Burnholme offer a unique opportunity to deliver a range of new facilities in this part of York, and I look forward to seeing them progress further,” she added.

Bidders will submit proposals over the next ten weeks, which will be evaluated and presented to senior councillors in December. The specification includes care for people with dementia, a discounted “block buying” deal for the council on care home places, and money in exchange for the land.

In May councillors approved a £981,000 cash injection to the Burnholme project for “enabling works” like putting in an access road, to help attract the commercial partner they need.

Reports published ahead of a meeting on Thursday show adult social care spending is projected to be £1.5 million over budget, due to the Burnholme investment and £600,000 spent on redevelopment plans at Haxby Hall care home.