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30 May 2018

Work to start on new care centre and library in Belper

Work to start on new care centre and library in Belper

Work has started on Derbyshire County Council’s new state-of-the-art care centre and library in Belper.

The 40-bed care home on the former Thornton's factory site in Derwent Street will replace Ada Belfield Home for Older People which no longer meets modern standards.

It will be built to the latest dementia friendly standards and residents from Ada Belfield will be offered a home in the new care centre when it is completed.

The development will also include a new library which will be housed in the oldest factory on site with the design showcasing the building's original architecture.

A pedestrian walkway will also be created to link the new site to town centre shops as part of the £12m development being constructed by Robertson Yorkshire & East Midlands.

Council Leader Councillor Barry Lewis and Cabinet Member for Adult Care Councillor Jean Wharmby visited the site for a tour and to mark the start of work on site.

Councillor Wharmby said: "This new building will be a wonderful addition to the town and will provide high-quality care in modern surroundings."

The factory's Derwent Street facade is being retained to reflect the fact that the site sits within the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site.

Councillor Lewis added: "Being on site brought back loads of memories of working at the Thornton's factory as a teenager.

"I'm delighted we have been able to retain the history of the site while creating a modern building offering the latest technology and all the services people expect in their library."

Pictured from right are Councillor Wharmby; Councillor Lewis; Paul Turner, managing director of Robertson Yorkshire & East Midlands, and project manager Gary Cooper.