Policy & Resources Committee announced that the western portion of the former hospital site would be used.
The proposed £5m. redevelopment would be privately funded and, subject to planning permission, would see 33 care home beds created.
CI Healthcare, which already runs four care homes, including Chateau Du Village and Browhill nursing home, is partnering with the States on the project.
CI Healthcare owner and managing director Nick Trott hoped the new care home places would be ready by the end of 2027.
He said the need for new care home places was becoming increasingly urgent.
‘From what I have heard from other organisations, every home is pretty full, so problems are probably going to occur sooner than later,’ he said.
He explained that the redevelopment would retain the existing structure, but inside it would undergo a complete transformation.
‘We are going to keep the envelope of the building, but completely gut it in the inside,’ he said.
‘Most rooms will have access to outside spaces, all rooms will be bigger than required, and they will have wet rooms.’
He added that the site was well-suited for its new purpose.
‘The building has all the attributes you need for a nursing home. It is a good size and the States have been maintaining it since its closure.’
However, staffing remains a key concern.
‘We often have to outsource our staff and provide them accommodation so it is important that we find additional staff of the same calibre as we do now.’
The redevelopment will depend on the Island Development Plan review, which could see KEVII and Castel Hospital sites reclassified as a care village.
Deputy Bob Murray, lead on property matters at Policy & Resources, said it made sense to use the site to help meet the demand for long term care.
‘We think this is an excellent example of the States working with a private provider to facilitate the kind of investment needed, utilising vacant taxpayer-owned land without requiring any additional financial commitment from the public,’ he said.
Employment & Social Security president Peter Roffey’s committee has been flagging up the need for this sort of provision throughout this States term.
‘The cohort most likely to require this sort of care are islanders aged 85-plus and numbers in this category are projected to increase by 128% over the next 30 years,’ he said.
‘So, even if the States does more to help elderly islanders to remain at home, the demand for both residential and nursing care provision is bound to go up significantly. In this context, this is the ideal use of the KEVII site.’
Health & Social Care president Al Brouard agreed this sort of development was much-needed.
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