Parklands Care Homes is investing £11 million on a new flagship care home at Milton of Leys on the outskirts of Inverness, which will provide 58 en suite bedrooms, several day/dining rooms, quiet lounges, an activity room, hairdresser and a café.

The development will be the largest purpose-built home in the Parklands group, which currently has 11 care homes across the Highlands and Moray, and this is its biggest ever single investment.

The home is expected to create around 120 full-time equivalent jobs when it opens in April next year.

The care home is the first phase of a multimillion-pound plan to create a new care community in the city, the first of its kind in the Highlands. Later phases will see the construction of a later-living village, comprising 11 two-bedroom bungalows designed to enable older people to live independent lives within a care home setting, and new rental accommodation for Parklands’ care workers.

The construction project is being undertaken by Inverness-based contractor Capstone Construction. The site team has completed the installation of the bison concrete flooring beams and the next major milestone will see the erection of the steel frame in early June, with the timber frame to follow later that month. At its peak, the site will support 40 to 60 construction jobs.

Highlands & Islands MSP Edward Mountain visited the site of a new home and was briefed by Ron Taylor, managing director of Parklands Care Homes and Rhona Donnelly, managing director of Capstone Construction.

Mountain said: “There is an increasing number of elderly people across the Highlands looking for care home accommodation. It is clear that there are insufficient homes to cope with the increasing demand.

“Major projects like this one being taken forward by Parklands are essential in meeting those challenges, and I’m delighted to see that people in the Highlands will benefit from this project when it completes next year. Modern local facilities that meet the needs of those looking for accommodation and the expectations of their families, as this project will, are vital. The additional development of staff accommodation and later living bungalows are both innovative and vital.

“I look forward to seeing this project move forward, and hope that not only is it the catalyst for more great work to take place in this area, but also because I believe Parkland Care Homes are an increasingly important provider of care homes in the area.”

Taylor commented: “When it opens, a year from now, [the home] will be the largest purpose-built care home in the Parklands group, and very much the flagship of our group. We’re confident that it will set a new standard in care quality, offering unparalleled comfort, support and amenities for our residents. Our investment in Inverness doesn’t stop there; in later phases, we will develop a later-living village and affordable homes for key workers, creating a unique integrated care community for the city.”

Donnelly added: “Having previously delivered extensions to their care homes in Muir of Ord and Tain, we are delighted to be working with Parklands to deliver this new flagship care home for the city of Inverness. It is set in a stunning location where, upon completion, the new residents will be able to enjoy views across the Moray and Beauly Firths.

 “Securing this prestigious contract will add to Capstone Construction’s expanding portfolio of projects in the Highlands and secure ongoing work for our existing workforce and supply chain.”