More Devizes residents will be supported to live independently for longer now planning permission has been granted for 47 state-of-the-art extra care homes costing £9 million.

The Eastern Area Planning Committee voted to grant planning permission, subject to a legal agreement to secure the affordable housing and recreation contribution.

The development, which includes more than £8m invested by Wiltshire Council, is on the former Southfield care home site on Victoria Road in Devizes. The scheme will have on-site care, support and facilities.

There will be a range of facilities and services to benefit residents and older people across Devizes – including a restaurant, a health and wellbeing suite, gardens and guest accommodation.

This is the first of Wiltshire Council’s new extra care housing schemes with two more planned in the county.

Construction work will start in the spring with the scheme is due to be open by late 2016.

All apartments will be in a modern design and will enable older people to live independently for longer with access to care and support as and when it is needed.

Residents have now moved from the former Southfield and Anzac House care homes to a new specialist care home at Horton Road.

Keith Humphries, cabinet member for adult care, said: “ I am delighted this scheme will now become a reality. Right from the start this project has been shaped around the needs of the local community and I thank everyone involved who has helped us reach this significant milestone.

“When building work is complete I am looking forward to seeing what a positive impact these much needed homes will have on the local area.”

Maggie Rae, Wiltshire Council's corporate director, said: “We are very committed to helping older residents live as independently as possible.

"These modern homes underline this commitment and will help us to meet the needs of older people in the future, offering them choice and control.”

The Wiltshire Council-owned and run scheme will include homes for affordable rent and potentially some shared ownership for sale homes with round the clock care and support delivered by the council’s local Help to Live at Home provider.

The Homes and Communities Agency, the national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England, has provided £800,000 of the £9m cost of the development.

A working group of councillors, local groups and representatives have been involved in developing the plans.

Late last year people across the Devizes area were able to hear more on the proposed development, see drawings of what it could look like and were given the opportunity to provide feedback.

The population of Devizes aged over 65 is projected to grow by 49.6% from 5,750 in 2007 to 8,600 in 2026.

In the same period, the over 85 population will increase by 95% by 2026.