PLANS for 70 'extra care' homes to serve older people in High Bentham and Ingleton were unveiled at a consultation event.

North Yorkshire County Council and partner Housing and Care 21, a non-profit housing and care provider, held a public meeting this week to give local people the chance to comment on proposals.

The scheme includes a mixture of bungalows, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments with options to rent or buy and there could also be communal facilities, such as a residents’ lounge and café.

The proposed location of the development is the former primary school in Robin Lane, Bentham.

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

It also provides communal facilities that can include a lounge, restaurant, hair and beauty room, guest suite and assisted bathing room.

Extra Care schemes may also incorporate facilities such as a GP surgery, library, a short break respite service and accommodation for people living with dementia or other complex needs.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council: "Our ambition is to have extra care provision in every market town as it offers people what they say they want, independent living in the heart of their communities but with care as needed 24 hours a day.

"We have 22 Extra Care schemes so far with 1,111 units of accommodation, there are four schemes currently in development."

More information about existing Extra Care developments and plans for the future is online at www.northyorks.gov.uk/extracare.

The scheme is in the pre-planning stage. Feedback from the consultation meeting at Bentham Town Hall will be considered and any changes made to the scheme before a planning application is submitted to Craven District Council.

This is expected to be within the next few weeks.