A LUXURY care home opening in Tenbury has pledged to create up to 80 new jobs and pour millions of pounds into the economy of the town and the Teme Valley.

The Ephraims Care Group has taken over the former Cadmore Lodge Hotel and turned it into a care home whose residents will include the super-rich.

A helicopter pad is part of the facility so that residents, their guests and friends can fly into Tenbury.

Since buying Cadmore Lodge last year the family business that has a string of care homes across the West Midlands has invested more than £1 million in the refurbishment.

It is also constructing a nursing facility and future plans include a unit that will cater for people suffering from dementia.

The project will provide a massive boost to the local economy with a commitment to provide work for people from the Tenbury area where possible.

When the care home is full this will mean up to 80 new full and part-time jobs.

There is also a promise to operate a ‘buy local’ policy if at all possible and it is estimated that this will involve spending at least £250,000 a year with suppliers and businesses in the Tenbury area.

The Ephraims Care Group was established in 1995 and already has homes in Shrewsbury, Kidderminster, Stourbridge and Halesowen.

But it says that the Cadmore Lodge facility is its biggest and most ambitious care home so far.

“This is a very special project and will be our signature business,” said Margaret Ephraims, part of the husband-and-wife team who founded the group.

It is hoped that there will be residents from the local area but there has been interest from all over the country including London and the south East.

There are 15 rooms, all of which can be single or double and the first couple have already moved in ahead of the official opening next month.

“Our intention is to provide hotel-style living for people who want to lead independent lives but need a little support,” said manager Laura Fergusson.

There is a restaurant, hair salon and swimming pool within the facility as well as a lake, extensive grounds and a nine hole golf course that will be available to residents and also to people living in the area on a ‘pay and play’ basis.

Work on a nursing facility that will provide more intensive care is well advanced and this will add another 15 rooms to the Cadmore Lodge site.

Future plans also include providing specialist care for people with dementia and chalet-style accommodation that can be used by family and friends of the residents.

Jean-Pierre Ellis, who has overall responsibility for all of the homes in the group, believes that it may take some time to get to full occupancy but when this is achieved the care home will be the largest employer in the Tenbury area.

“We are committed to being full and active members of the community in Tenbury and plan to work with local tourist attractions,” he added.