Work begins on £5.7m respite accommodation

The £5.7m facility will provide respite accommodation for families

Work has started on £5.7m respite accommodation for autistic people, those with learning disabilities and their families.

The short-break accommodation is being built on the site of the old Lakers Youth Centre in Woking.

When finished, the facility will have eight ensuite bedrooms, a sensory room, a communal lounge and landscaped gardens.

On Thursday a ground-breaking ceremony was held to mark the official start of the works.

Surrey County Council’s plans for improving short-break accommodation also include the redevelopment of another site in Banstead.

Andrea, whose child currently attends the service in Banstead, said: "Brandan needs 24-hour care seven days a week – it does not stop for us as parents – and this will be an invaluable service so near to our home.

"But it’s not only for us, it’s about Brandan. We want him to feel it’s like a holiday. We can be happy and relaxed knowing that he is happy."

The council's cabinet member for adult social care, Sinead Mooney, said unpaid carers across Surrey did an "amazing job" ensuring their loved ones could continue to live at home.

She added: "But it can take a toll on even the most dedicated partner or relative.

"The new accommodation will represent a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide the person being cared for with the support they need, while offering their carer the chance to recharge their batteries by taking a break themselves."

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