£4.5m bungalow development opens for those with complex needs in West Lothian

New bungalows designed to give people with complex needs their own home in the heart of the community will welcome tenants this New Year.

The project provides much needed local homes to give a degree of independence and allow those with complex needs to stay within West Lothian, rather than in a hospital setting, or away from family locally.

The £4.5 million development in Cawburn Road, Livingston, was built on behalf of the West Lothian Council by Cruden Building East, will provide 16 one-bedroom bungalows, designed to support individuals with learning disabilities to live independently.

The facility has a range of features to support individuals who face challenges due to specific sensory needs as well as being designed to support a range of technology enable care which will support them to live with a degree of independence.

Alongside the 16 bungalows the site also has staff quarters.

The tenancies are designed to enable individuals with complex care needs to avoid unnecessary hospital stays as well as reducing the need for individuals having to leave West Lothian.

In a presentation to the Health and Social Care Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP) last month Karen Love, a senior manager of adult services said: “Tenancies will be offered to those who are currently living within a hospital setting, placed in a residential setting outside West Lothian, or young people in transition to adult care.”

She added: “Owing to the pandemic and associated supply issues there was a delay to the start the build. However building work started in January 2023. Each tenancy has their own front door and private back door and small private garden area.

“Individuals will be moving to the homes on a carefully planned a basis which will include meeting and working with them in their current place of residence.”

Three individuals were set to move in before the Christmas holidays.

The new homes have been named Bryson Court.

As previously highlighted by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the new homes were given the green light in 2018 after the Cawburn Road site was chosen. However the Covid lockdown delayed the start and completion of the development.

The bungalows will be managed by Mears Group, which has been awarded the contract to provide the required care and support for individuals living in the development, on behalf of the West Lothian Integrated Joint Board (IJB).

The IJB has responsibility for planning most of the integrated health and social care services for adults in the area, delivered though the West Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP).

Executive councillor for social work and health Anne McMillan, who chairs the Health and Social Care PDSP was joined by invited special guests and council staff, including Alison White, Chief Officer of West Lothian HSCP, to celebrate the completion of the development.

Councillor McMillan said: “I’m delighted to see this superb new development for West Lothian residents with learning disabilities and complex care needs completed.

“This significant investment in local homes for individuals with a range of care and support needs will significantly empower more residents to live independently within the community, avoiding unnecessary hospital stays or having to move to other areas.

“It will be a huge asset to enable those who require this level of support, to receive it within their own home.”

Sustainability measures have also been considered, such as ground source heat pumps, with an on-site staff building will ensure that care and support can be provided to individuals as this is needed.