The development of a multi-million-pound care facility in Blantyre is under way with plans to have it up and running by October. 

The 20-bedded transitional care facility and 20 technology-enabled properties will all be equipped with state-of-the-art telecare systems to support independent living. 

The South Lanarkshire care facility is scheduled to be operational by October this year and the first technology-enabled homes were allocated in January and February with the rest to follow in July. 

Director of health and social care, Soumen Sengupta, said: “Innovation is the beating heart of this development and of our wider commitment to supporting people to live well, safely, and independently at home.

“Our collaboration here with the Glasgow Science Centre – the first of its kind in Scotland – is one that the development has really benefited from and that we look forward to our building on.”

Chair of the council’s Social Work Resources Committee, councillor Margaret Walker (Cambuslang West), said: “This facility is all about supporting people to return home or to a setting which best meets their needs.

“It was fantastic to be able to see the excellent progress our staff and all those involved have delivered ahead of the much-anticipated opening in October.”

A further development of 25 new council homes will also be developed on the same site to provide social housing at the centre of Blantyre. 

The development of the homes has been supported by grant funding from the Scottish Government’s Affordable Housing Supply Programme.

Chair of the council’s Housing and Technical Resources Committee, councillor Davie McLachlan (Hamilton North and East), said: “The 20 technology-enabled properties will mainly support people who are predominantly frail and elderly to live safely and manage their own care.

“As well as that, the 25 new council homes will also be a welcome addition to the heart of Blantyre.”