PLANS to build an 'extra care' facility in Skipton for older people are due to be unveiled at a consultation event at the town hall on Thursday (July 27).

Housing and Care 21, together with North Yorkshire County Council, are proposing to build 58 one and two bedroom apartments at the back of St Stephen's RC Church, off Raikes Lane, close to Ermysted's Grammar School.

Also under consultation is an extra care scheme in Bentham, on the site of the former primary school in Robin Lane, where 58 apartments and 13 bungalows are planned.

Included in both schemes will be communal areas, such as a residents' lounge, a cafe, which will also be open to the general public, and a hairdressing salon.

There will also be an 'assisted bathing suite', which will also be open to the wider community, a mobility scooter store, with re-charging facilities, and a guest suite for visitors. Access to the residents' apartments will be via a secure area.

A spokesman for Housing and Care 21, said there would be a choice of apartments to rent or buy, either through shared ownership sale or outright sale.

"We aim to provide flexible spaces to maximize use of the building for the wider benefit of our residents and other people visiting the scheme and accessing services on offer and to offer a community hub. We propose to provide a scheme which is accessible by wheelchair users including two lifts, gardens and with communal facilities."

If approved, it would be the sixth 'extra care' scheme aimed at people of more than 55 years old in North Yorkshire, including Limestone View in Settle.

An earlier scheme submitted by the Roman Catholic church to build 70 apartments for older people on the site was approved by Craven District Council in February, 2013.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council: "Our ambition is to have extra care provision in every market town as it offers people what they say they want, independent living in the heart of their communities but with care as needed 24 hours a day. We have 22 Extra Care schemes so far with 1,111 units of accommodation, there are four schemes currently in development."

Representatives from both Housing and Care 21 and the council, will be on hand to answer questions and to accept comments at the consultation at Skipton Town Hall on Thursday from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

A consultation event for the Bentham scheme took place at Bentham Town Hall on Monday.