Despite previous objections from some residents, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has decided to push through with the construction of a new nursing home for the elderly on an empty land along Bishan Street 13, reported Asia One.
But to appease the residents, the elderly care home will be capped at six floors instead of eight storeys, so as not to block the views from their units.
Construction of the nursing home will commence next year and is expected to be completed by late-2014. The 260-bed home will be managed by Lions Home for the Elders, a non-profit organisation.
According to the MOH, they have consulted various planning agencies, including the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and the Housing and Development Board (HDB), on whether other sites suggested by residents could be utilised.
However, these sites were designated for other uses, or are presently being occupied by other organisations, said Chua Thian Poh, Chairman of Bishan East Division Citizens’ Consultative Committee.
Apart from the Bishan East home, six additional nursing homes will be launched in the heartland by 2015. The ministry is also planning to build two new ones in Jurong West and Buangkok, while the rest are existing homes that will relocate to residential areas, revealed an earlier report by The Straits Times.
To date, there are around 65 nursing homes with about 9,400 beds and the Health Ministry aims to boost this number to 15,600 beds by 2020.
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