A state-of-the-art nursing home is set to be built in Glanmire.

Cork-based healthcare fund BlackBee Group has announced that planning permission is expected to be lodged for the first new-build Aperee Nursing Home within weeks.

The Glanmire development will be part of a collection of properties that will ultimately become Ireland’s largest residential care group.

It’s timely news too; Ireland’s population currently has 637,000 over 65s and 67,000 over 85s. By 2040 it is estimated that this will increase to a staggering 1.2 million over 65s and 216,000 over 85s.

Ireland has a current supply of approximately 30,000 residential beds but by 2040 the demand will need to increase to approximately 59,000.

BlackBee confirmed that they are looking to include separate crèche/montesorri schools on its new sites to “maximise the international experience of younger and older persons daily interactions”.

The Group is also in advanced negotiations on the purchase of two existing nursing homes in the Munster region.

‘1,500 new jobs will be created’

In a statement released this morning, BlackBee revealed that the fund aims to raise €250m to invest in the acquisition and development of state-of-the-art care homes

“The investment will initially see the construction of 1,000 new state of the art single ensuite beds and the acquisition of 750 existing beds operating under a new brand, Aperee.” the group states.

“Over 1,500 new jobs will be created, 1,000 existing jobs will be sustained and a further 800 will be supported, under these plans, during construction.”

Commenting on the plans, Aperee CEO Paul Kingston said:  “In our new developments, our homes will be designed as ‘enabling environments’ which maximise functional ability and wellbeing for our residents, and will be designed and planned using design elements such as lighting, colour, acoustics, layout and landscape design to take account of the residents needs. we are working with a leading international design firm to achieve this.”