The bosses of four Norwich care homes which are set to be closed have confirmed their intention to put the properties up for sale once the tenants have moved out.

Bosses say the homes – Heathfield, Mountfield, Somerley and Philadelphia House – all date back to the 1970s and their age means they are not up to modern standards.

NorseCare, which runs the homes and is owned by Norfolk County Council, announced in the summer that it wanted to shut the homes and to transfer people to an £18.9m 'care village' development at the Three Score site in Bowthorpe, to other care homes or housing with care schemes.

Consultation with the residents and their families concluded last month and 112 responses were received, with 71pc supporting closure and the move to Bowthorpe.

Dates for the homes to close have not yet been decided, but it is expected to take place during spring next year. Bosses at NorseCare have said they will then look to sell off the properties.

A NorseCare spokesman said: 'We'll be looking to advertise the sale of the homes on the open market, but the sales will not complete until the homes are empty.

'The receipts from the sales will be used to improve our care facilities.'

The Bowthorpe Care Village, currently under construction is due for completion early next year.

It includes The Meadows – Saffron Housing Trust's 92 housing with care apartments and NorseCare's Mayflower Court – an 80-bed specialist care home for people living with dementia.

NorseCare will also be providing care within The Meadows.

Norsecare bosses say no redundancies are anticipated because of the changes and all existing permanent staff will be offered jobs at the care village or in other NorseCare care homes or housing with care schemes.

The care company says residents and their families will be given the support they need ahead of the move.

Every resident will be assessed by social work staff and people will be offered alternative accommodation and care suitable to their needs.

Heathfield, in Cannell Green, and Mountfield, in Millcroft, are dementia care homes, while Somerley, on Somerleyton Street and Philadelphia House, in Penn Grove, are residential care homes.

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