PLANS are being developed to build scores of new housing for the elderly in Winchester city centre.

Fears had been raised about housing for the elderly in the wake of the announced closure of Devenish House in Winchester.

The Chronicle reported last month that St John’s Winchester Charity was planning to close Devenish House and relocate to alternative accommodation the remaining 12 residents.

At the council meeting in the Guildhall Cllr Martin Tod questioned the council leader Stephen Godfrey following the news revealed in the Chronicle on October 6.

Its operator, St John’s Winchester Charity, says Devenish House is no longer fit for purpose and would be too expensive, if indeed it was possible, to be modernised.

The home opened in a former 18th century hotel in the early 1990s.

Cllr Tod said homes in these older unsuitable buildings, coupled with rising staff costs such as the Living Wage, would lead to more closures and a lack of suitable housing for the elderly.

But Cllr Ian Tait, a trustee of St John’s, said the charity had had “high-level discussions with the council chief executive” about plans for 60 new beds to replace Devenish House.

St John’s director Clive Cook told the Chronicle: “St John’s has active plans to build up to 30 new almshouses on two sites in the city centre that are designed to support older people in independent living.

“These new sites would be linked to our existing community. Our plans are dependent on community consultations and planning permissions but we are determined to press ahead.”

The two sites are in Colebrook Street, near its current almshouses, and Chesil Street on land next to the Chesil Theatre.

No further details were available from St John’s.

Cllr Caroline Horrill, portfolio holder for housing, said the council was building 52 new Extra Care places at Chesil Lodge, on Chesil Street on the site of the former open-air car park.

There was also provision for schemes at Barton Farm, Whiteley and the West of Waterlooville development.

“We have lower waiting times for elderly residents,” she told the meeting.

Meanwhile St John’s has been consulting over the closure which jeopardises 32 full and part-time jobs. Some staff have been offered posts at Moorside, its home for people with alzheimer’s which is set to be enlarged.