A STATE-of-the-art home for people with learning disabilities has opened in Kidderminster.

Last summer, Worcestershire County Council agreed a proposal to close the old and deteriorating Consterdyne Care Home and transfer all 10 occupants to The Community Housing Group’s (TCHG) building known as the Woodlands, located nearby.

The decision was welcomed by Consterdyne's residents – some of whom had lived in the building together for more than 30 years – as it would enable them to stay living together in the new flats, rather than be split up and re-located elsewhere.

The decision prompted a £250,000 refurbishment of the Woodlands - significantly less than the estimated £1.1 million cost for refurbishing Consterdyne, which was deemed unsuitable for meeting the long-term care needs of the residents.

Yesterday, staff from TCHG and the county council joined councillors and the service users in formally opening the Rifle Range Road building, which now boasts four additional flats which are designed to support the independence and care requirements of its occupants. New and modern kitchen, bathroom and living room facilities are also included.

Rooms in the building have been re-decorated with some input from the service users to help them settle in and feel at home as quickly as possible. In addition much of the work has been completed by young apprentices from the area who are part of TCHG's property services team.

The ribbon was cut by one of residents Linda Underhill, who said: "Its lovely, I have furniture I like."

Eddie Clarke, Worcestershire County Council's director of adult and community services, added: “It's fantastic to see this modern new building completed and the service users settling in to their new home, which is the culmination of lots of hard work from officers at the county council, Consterdyne staff and service users and their families, and our partners from Community Housing Group."