A CARE home in the heart of Romsey has been demolished to make way for an £11.2 million extra-care facility.

Nightingale Lodge in Great Well Drive has been knocked down and construction work for the new building at the site is set to start next month.

As previously reported, the new facility was set to open this summer but the scheme was delayed by more than a year.

This came after the developer “frustratingly identified previously unknown ground condition issues” which required additional costs and time.

But the Hampshire County Council (HCC) scheme has now moved a step forward.

Once complete, the home will provide 54 one and two-bed rented extra-care assisted flats, communal gardens and courtyard areas, as well as a separate space for a day service.

A spokesman for HCC said: “We continue to move forward with the development of Nightingale Lodge, with work expected to begin on site shortly after Easter. Our development partners, a consortium led by Ashley House PLC with Places for People, the housing association, are finalising their plans.

“Once open, which we expect to be in the autumn of 2020, this brand new development will provide exceptional, purpose built accommodation for the town’s older population.”

As previously reported, last month Romsey councillor Mark Cooper said the delay was unfortunate and described the derelict site as an eyesore for local residents.

Nightingale Lodge was controversially closed in 2013, after county councillor voted to shut it.