THE FOUNDATION stone has been placed for a state-of-the-art dementia care home in Thornbury.

The 70-bed Grace Care Centre, just off Midland Way, which is set to be completed late next year, will be a three floor facility providing a combination of residential and specialist dementia care through individual households, each coming with a private kitchen and communal living space.

The home will also include a central area for the new community, featuring a cafe, hair and beauty salon, craft room and cinema, as well as landscaped gardens accessible from each of the ground floor households and a communal garden that will be accessible from the cafe area and dining rooms.

The facility is being built by developer Castleoak in partnership with The Orders of St John Care Trust, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit care home providers.

At an official ceremony on September 8, Cllr Erica Williams, chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, laid the foundation stone in front of an audience including representatives from several community groups, trustees and directors, as well as descendants of the famous cricketer WG Grace, who the centre is named after.

Cllr Williams said: “It was a pleasure to attend The Orders of St John Care Trust’s official ceremony and see the foundation stone laid for this state-of-the-art care centre.

“It’s fantastic to see progress made on this development that will offer excellent facilities for vulnerable people in South Gloucestershire.”

Thornbury mayor Cllr Helen Harrison, who was also in attendance, said: “I am delighted that the Order of St Johns Care Trust have chosen Thornbury to be the location of its latest care home.

“Their work is second to none when it comes to caring for people with dementia, and their presence in our town will be a very positive asset for our residents.

“Thornbury is seeking to become a dementia-friendly community, and Grace Care Centre will play a very strong part in that journey.”

Chris Poole, OSJCT assistant operations director for Gloucestershire, said: “As the number of older people living longer and with dementia grows, there is even more of a need for facilities like this one and the other 18 we already operate throughout the county.

“Meeting the needs of and providing the highest quality of compassionate care to this vulnerable group is our number one priority.

“As construction progresses, we look forward to inviting the local community to come and see the excellent facilities we’ll have to offer.”

Castleoak development director, Doug Jones, said: “Having delivered design and build solutions with The Orders of St John Care Trust over the past 13 years, we’re delighted to have this opportunity to consolidate our partnership with this project, our first development deal.

“We’re looking forward to providing a first class new facility for the local community.”