Initial bids for the Blantyre Care Hub have been thrown out by South Lanarkshire Council.
Two construction firms had bid to win the contract to build the project but both came in over budget.
The council has re-tendered the project, which has received further bids, but they don’t expect to be on site until later this year.
In December, plans for the hub were approved and construction was expected to start in the spring.
Hamilton West and Earnock councillor Alan Falconer questioned officers on the position of the project at a meeting of the council’s social work committee on Wednesday, August 19.
Councillors had been discussing the social work department’s capital expenditure for 2019-20 when Cllr Falconer brought up the issue.
Head of health and social care, Ian Beattie, updated the committee on the procurement process and confirmed that the two initial bids had come in over budget.
He said: “Currently, bids are being evaluated. We are expected to be on site later this year as planned. We hope to be back on track as we enter autumn.”
In April 2018, South Lanarkshire Council announced plans to transform the site of the former St Joseph’s Primary in Blantyre into a new community hub as part of an £18 million care vision.
More than 800 objections were lodged with the council over the plans for the hub, which will see the 1.9 hectare site turned into 45 homes for social rent – 20 of which will be technology enabled – and a two-storey community and care facility.
The council hope that the dedicated intermediate care facility will support people to live in their own homes for longer.
Every home will have its own parking space, while community-facing elements of the hub would include a cafe, a technology area, meeting spaces and consultation/treatment rooms.
