Care home could house asylum seekers

A former Castlemilk care home could be converted into accommodation for asylum seekers.

Mack Residential have asked Glasgow City Council for permission to renovate the former Torbrae Care Home on Bogany Terrace and use it as temporary asylum seeker accommodation, providing a home while they wait for their applications were considered and processed.

A decision on the proposals is due by October 5.

The property has been closed since April 2014 and the care home suffered a number of complaints over the years.

A Mack Residential statement said:“The number of temporary residents accommodated at any one time would be at a higher intensity than the 88-bed maximum occupancy of the dementia care home, up to 200 residents, owing to the diminished need for, for instance, en suite bathrooms, accessible bedroom layouts and storage for personal possessions.

“It is broadly envisaged that the main wings of the building would be configured for specific groups of occupants, those being family groups/individuals with children, pairs of individuals and those travelling alone.”

The proposals also suggest that he centre would be operated by AIRE around the clock with further services provided by other groups, including the NHS and City of Sanctuary movement.

According to the plans there will be no significant alterations to the building exterior.

The statement added:“The level and mixture of support afforded to residents would not be dissimilar to that of a typical care home.

“In terms of day-to-day facilities the centre would provide on-site healthcare facilities with routine check-up procedures, central cooking and dining facilities, communal areas and overarching administrative provision.”