Residents in Harrogate and Scarborough are being asked to share their views on a proposed multi‑million‑pound investment that aims to transform specialist care for older and disabled people.
North Yorkshire Council plans to build up to five new care and support hubs as part of its commitment to modernising dementia services and enhancing intermediate care.
The pioneering programme hopes to deliver high-quality support for communities across North Yorkshire, while at the same time, achieving significant long-term savings that address the growing financial pressures in adult social care.
A two-week pre-planning public consultation is now under way for the first two hubs which are to be developed in Harrogate and Scarborough to meet the rising countywide demand for specialist care, replacing several council-run care homes that are operating from older buildings.
If approved, the hubs will provide specialist residential dementia care as well as short-term support for people leaving hospital, helping to reduce avoidable re-admissions and speed up rehabilitation.
While the hubs are designed to primarily support older people, they will also be equipped to assist working-age adults with similar needs.
Feedback from the consultation will help shape a community engagement statement for both sites, which will be included in the full planning applications that are due to be submitted in the spring.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said:
We are facing significant challenges across North Yorkshire with rising demand and increasing costs in adult social care.
These proposed new hubs will help us to continue to deliver the best standard of care and support at crucial moments in people’s lives, while also generating long-term savings for the council and taxpayers.
We are excited about the positive, lasting impact that these hubs can have. I would encourage residents in Harrogate and Scarborough to look at the proposals and make the most of the consultation by sharing their feedback.
As part of the proposals, each hub would include lounges, quiet rooms and dining areas, as well as assisted bathrooms, en-suite bedrooms, dedicated areas for physical and occupational therapy, and accessible outdoor spaces.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, a total of 9,272 people aged over 65 were living with dementia in North Yorkshire in 2021.
This figure is projected to rise to more than 15,000 by 2030, with about two-thirds expected to have severe dementia requiring long-term social care.
Residents are encouraged to review the proposals on North Yorkshire Council’s website and share their views before Monday, April 6.
A community drop-in event will be held in each town, giving residents the opportunity to view the plans and speak directly with the project team.
- The Harrogate event will take place between 3pm and 6pm on Monday, March 23, at Bilton Club on Skipton Road, Harrogate.
- The Scarborough event will run from 1pm to 5pm on Wednesday, March 25, at Legacy Studio Community Centre on Ashmead Square, Eastfield.
For more information on the plans and how to get involved in the consultation, visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/CareSupportHubs.
