THE construction of five new apartments providing short breaks for adults with learning disabilities is now complete.

The extension at Plymouth City Council's Colwill Lodge increases the number of beds at the centre to 15.

The individual apartments, where interiors are currently being fitted out, have been designed so the visitor, their family and carers can tailor the short break to their needs.

They are wheelchair accessible and have open lounge areas and kitchens with floor-length windows to allow views of the garden.

There are ensuite bathrooms and two of the apartments have specialist lifting systems and communal areas where people can socialise.

Councillor Grant Monahan, Cabinet Member for Adult Health and Social Care, said: "I'm very pleased to see the extension reaching the final stages.

"Colwill offers people with very specialised needs the chance to have a short break and gives their carers very important respite.

"These new apartments will enable us to build on the excellent work already being done at Colwill Lodge."

Based in Estover, the work at Colwill Lodge is being paid for by council capital funding and the council secured grant funding of £250,000 from the SW Regional Efficiency and Improvement Programme.

Plans to extend the centre, which were embroiled in controversy when first announced, are linked to the closure of ten-bed care home Welby. The Peverell unit cared for 40 people with learning disabilities but was shut in March after city councillors agreed that is was no longer "fit for purpose".