NORTH Yorkshire County Council has announced a major expansion of facilities to provide purpose-built accommodation for people with health and social care needs.

The council has begun a procurement process to find partner organisations to work with the county council as part of a multi-million pound project which will see extra care accommodation built in every major town in North Yorkshire.

The council is procuring a framework of organisations, such as building developers and social housing providers who will design, fund, build, manage and operate the schemes, on the council’s behalf.

Extra care allows people to live in their own homes, but with care and support, according to need, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Cllr Clare Wood, for health and adult services, said: “We want to put extra care at the heart of our communities and to plan ahead for current and future generations.

“By 2020, the strategy will have seen the provision of many more apartments and bungalows right across North Yorkshire – making it possible for people to have the care and support they need, in the places where they want to live.”