Further details have emerged about the possible closure of three more ageing Bradford Council-run care homes, with councillors being asked to consider building a smaller number of bigger replacement homes instead of five 40-bed homes in order to save costs.

Locations would still need to be found for the new high-specification facilities, as not all of the sites of the Council’s remaining eight care homes are suitable for 40-bed homes or larger.

In a report to councillors, Janice Simpson, assistant director of operational services in the Council's adult and community services department, reveals that the estimated cost of building a 40-bed care home has increased and is now considered to be £4.69 million, while a 50-bed home would be £5.14 million.

She states: “The options include building fewer, larger homes to better contain these costs. Further work continues on the specifications to drive down costs.

“A review of existing sites shows that not all are suitable for new build of larger buildings.”

In addition, the Council’s two current priorities for new extra-care housing developments are in Thackley, following the closure of Thackley Grange care home in September, and a city centre scheme as part of the regeneration of Goitside. Further schemes would be considered where there is evidence of need and as sites become available.

It has emerged that a recent bid to the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency to develop a Council-owned site in Thackley was unsuccessful, perhaps due to a reduction in the level of grants available to the organisation.

The report, which looks into the next steps for the Council’s review of residential and day care services for older people, also provides details of more than £500,000 that would need spending in the next year on the three care homes in Bradford that are under threat.

Councillors are being asked to agree to consult on the future of Holme View, in Holme Wood, Neville Grange, in Shipley, and Harbourne, in Wibsey. It follows the closure of Laurence House, in Undercliffe, Meadowcroft, in Rooley Lane, and Thackley Grange, in Idle, last year.

In the next five years a total of £2 million would need to be spent on the eight care home buildings as part of essential works, with £1.3 million of that total being in the first year.

Councillor Amir Hussain, the Council’s executive member for adult services, said: “This is part of a long-term strategy which began over three years ago. With a rising population of older people we need to make changes to ensure everyone can get the care or services they need at the same time as meeting the challenges of tighter finances.”

The options will be discussed by the Council’s social care overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday, before a decision is made by members of the executive.

They will be asked to agree to consultation on the future of the three further care homes, and to prepare detailed business cases for the proposed five care homes, while addressing the implications of increasing the size of the homes.