A CONTROVERSIAL plan to close old people's homes and build new-style accommodation for pensioners is going ahead.

Durham County Council's executive committee has accepted the scheme, which has been revised after consultation.

The shake-up was prompted by legislation setting new standards for homes, which the Labour authority says could cost it up to £60m to implement.

The council currently has 25 homes across the county. In the two-phase scheme these will be reduced to nine - one fewer than originally planned.

Six 'extra care units' similar to one already operating in Crook are also planned. Five new facilities were originally proposed.

There will be four units for mentally ill elderly people. The authority plans to maintain the total of beds available by buying places from the private sector.

The scheme will cost up to £18m but will release £2.4m in revenue. The number of job losses will be 290 instead of the 350 originally planned.

The council plans to arrange with district councils and housing associations to accommodate 'vulnerable' people in sheltered housing and to help people to stay in their own homes.

The first stage will involve the replacement of 12 homes with seven 'extra care units' by March 2004. The scheme will be completed by 2006.

The scheme provoked opposition to the loss of local homes in different parts of the county. Unions have also expressed concern about the impact on services and jobs.

Council leader Ken Manton said: "The new plan increases the number of extra care places and beds retained in our own homes, reduces our dependency on the independent sector and reduces the number of jobs potentially at risk.''

John Shuttleworth, Independent councillor for Weardale, said: "I think there is a long-term need for residential care and I don't think this plan will meet that need.

"I'm concerned that some of the homes that will be closed have more rooms that will meet the new standards than some of those which will stay open."