Maidenhead & Windsor

The site of a former residential care home for older people in Maidenhead could have a new future as a centre of excellence for people with learning disabilities, thanks to a Royal Borough proposal announced today (Tuesday November 28).

Cllr Pam Proctor, lead member for Maidenhead adult services, told Windsor and Maidenhead Learning Disability Partnership about the council's plan to use the site of the now-empty Boyn Grove residential home to build a brand new day centre designed to the highest modern standards and specifically for the needs of people with learning disabilities.

Boyn Grove has been empty for several months since residents moved to the new nearby Clara Court, built on the site of the former 21 Courthouse Road to provide state-of-the-art facilities for the borough's older people with more complex needs.

Cllr Proctor explained: "We are fortunate to have excellent provision for people with learning disabilities in the Brunel Day Centre, despite the fact that the building – an old junior school – is increasingly inappropriate and out of date. Having the Boyn Grove site available is a fantastic opportunity to provide a purpose-built centre that will not only cater for the needs of current users but can also be designed to take account of what users will need in the future."

Cllr Proctor said she was particularly pleased that the new Maidenhead centre would also include facilities for an increased number of respite beds.

She added: "I know this will be welcomed by parents and carers throughout the borough who benefit tremendously from knowing their loved ones are well looked after while they have a deserved short break to recharge their batteries. I am confident it will also be welcomed by Brunel staff who, despite working in old and out-of-date accommodation, provide excellent services and they, too, deserve the best we can possibly provide."

Like the Clara Court project, the plan for Boyn Grove, Maidenhead could be taken forward in conjunction with Maidenhead & District Housing Association and officers of the two organisations will now be having discussions about possible ways forward.

Cllr Proctor made it clear that the views of parents, carers, voluntary support organisations and the council's partner agencies such as Berkshire East PCT would be sought before any final decision was made. However, she said she was very excited by the prospect of being able to give the borough a magnificent new building that would carry on the high standards set by Brunel – with even more opportunities to improve.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead