A sod cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday 7 January to celebrate the start of building works on brand new, supported living bungalows at the Occombe House site in Paignton.

Residents of Occombe House, their family members and carers as well as support workers were in attendance to mark the start of the development. Representatives from Torbay Council, Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust (TSDHCT) and Sandwell Community Caring Trust (SCCT) also celebrated the occasion.

Occombe House currently looks after eight residents who require a high level of care and round-the-clock support. To ensure the residents receive the highest quality of care in a modern environment, two new four bedroom bungalows are being purpose built on site to best meet their needs.

Family and carers of the residents and healthcare professionals from TSDHCT have been involved throughout the project and helped with the design of the bungalows.

Torbay’s Mayor, Gordon Oliver, said: “It is great to see this scheme get underway. With the hard work and support of Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust and Sandwell Community Caring Trust, we can now provide Occombe residents with purpose built supported living accommodation. I recognise the close working relationship which has enabled this development to be achieved”

Mandy Seymour-Hanbury, Chief Executive at Torbay and Southern Devon Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “Today marks a significant milestone in the development to provide modern, supported living accommodation for the residents of Occombe House. The new purpose built bungalows will enable residents to receive person-centred care in a modern environment. The bungalows have been specifically designed to enable the highest quality support to be given to the residents to enhance their wellbeing and assist them to live as independently as possible.

“We look forward to our continued relationship with Sandwell Community Caring Trust which is building, and subsequently running, the new supported living accommodation.”

Occombe House is owned by Torbay Council and run on its behalf by TSDHCT. SCCT is building and will then run the new supported living accommodation.

David Harborne, Operations Manager at SCCT, said: “Sandwell Community Caring Trust has enjoyed working in partnership with the clients, carers, family representatives, local authority and NHS to develop these bespoke bungalows. We are all looking forward to the completion date, so the clients can enjoy their new home.”

Residents will remain in their current accommodation at Occombe House until the new bungalows are complete. The building works are expected to be complete by May 2015.

Ends.