A SUFFOLK care home could be knocked down to make way for a new state-of-the-art facility as part of an investment in residential care.

Mills Meadow in Framlingham is one of 16 homes and eight wellbeing centres being transferred from Suffolk County Council to health and social care company Care UK, named preferred provider earlier this year.

A proposal has been developed by Care UK and council officers to replace Mills Meadow with a home and wellbeing centre on the same site.

Subject to planning permission, construction would begin in April 2013, with work completed in April 2015.

The new home would have double the current capacity of 30 beds and be built in two phases with residents staying in the existing building during phase one.

Care UK has committed to deliver 10 new care homes in Suffolk, providing 680 specialist care beds, with 370 contracted directly to the county council.

Colin Noble, cabinet member for adult care, said: “We are dealing with people’s homes and must not lose sight of that. Over the coming weeks, we are visiting each of the homes to talk directly with residents, relatives and staff about the proposal for their home, to answer their questions and allay their concerns.

“It is important to remember that these are just proposals. The county council’s cabinet will consider them when it meets in October and only if they believe they will meet the needs of Suffolk people now and in the future will any change take place.”

If proposals are approved, residents will be assigned a social care worker to support them through the change.

Care UK said the development would form part of an investment of more than �60m into care homes in Suffolk.