A SPECIALIST £16 million residential centre in Rowley Regis, which will help older people live healthier lives, has been backed by councillors.

Sandwell’s full council supported a change to local development plans to allow the 90-unit facility to go ahead, at their meeting this week (Tuesday, January 15).

The new centre will be built on council-owned, public open space by Moor Lane and Harvest Road and offer 66 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom flats.

As well as the apartments, the development will have communal facilities for its residents all based around a shared garden.

Cllr Paul Moore, cabinet member for regeneration and economic investment, explained the land had been bought in 1947 for housing but had been designated as community open space in 2010.

He said: “This unit will provide much-needed housing for people aged 55 or over who require care of between five and 25 hours a week in the Rowley Regis area.

“The development will have a range of communal facilities with specialist adaptations including restaurants, assisted bathing along with assisted on-site 24 hour care.”

He added: “The building will offer the very best possible quality environment to support people’s care needs.”

He said construction was expected to be completed by September 2020.

Cllr Ann Shackleton, cabinet member for social care, jokingly said it sounded so good she might put herself down for a place.

She added: “We don’t have such a facility in Rowley Regis and we really see the need for it. I whole-heartedly welcome this facility.

“Where we have such facilities in in other parts of the borough they have proved to be outstanding in how they have turned around the lives of local people who choose to live in them.

“Those people are living longer lives, they are living healthier lives and they are also living more active lives.

"I realise there were a few objections to this development but only a small portion of the field will be built on and as part of the planning conditions, the rest of the field will be landscaped and improved.

"These 'Extra Care' homes will provide older people with the independence of staying in their own home but still getting any care and support they require."

The recommendation to approve was passed unanimously.